Mechanical wave

Essential knowledge 14.1.A.2 states both halves at once, and the second half is the contrast: mechanical waves or wave pulses require a medium in which to propagate, while electromagnetic waves or wave pulses do not. Put a ringing bell in a vacuum jar and the sound stops; the light from it does not.

The medium owns the speed. EK 14.1.A.3: the speed at which a wave or wave pulse propagates through a medium depends on the type of wave and the properties of the medium. Change the source and nothing about the speed moves.

One mechanical speed formula is printed on the AP Physics 2 sheet, for a string:

EK 14.1.A.3.ii names the two properties in it, the tension $F_T$ and the mass per length. Tighten the string and the wave speeds up; use a heavier string and it slows down. For sound there is no printed formula, only EK 14.1.A.3.iii: in a given medium, the speed of sound waves increases with the temperature of the medium.

A mechanical wave still transfers no matter. It needs particles to pass the disturbance along, which is not the same as carrying them. The medium is the messenger, not the cargo.

Mechanical waves come in both geometries, transverse on a string and longitudinal in air, so mechanical and transverse are separate labels rather than a pair.