The reason sound waves require a medium to travel, while light does not, is rooted in the nature of the two types of waves and the properties of the media through which they propagate.
Sound waves are mechanical waves that result from the vibration of particles in a medium, such as air, water, or solids. When an object vibrates, it causes neighboring particles to vibrate as well, transferring the energy from particle to particle and creating a wave. These compressions and rarefactions of particles form regions of high and low pressure, respectively, which propagate as sound waves. In order for sound to propagate, it relies on the presence of particles to transmit the mechanical vibrations from one location to another. Thus, sound waves require a material medium to travel through.
On the other hand, light is an electromagnetic wave, and electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum, such as outer space, where there is no material medium. Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of propagation. These waves can travel through a vacuum because they do not rely on the displacement of particles for transmission. Instead, they are self-propagating and can travel through the electric and magnetic fields of space.
In summary, sound waves require a material medium to propagate because they rely on the physical interaction between particles, whereas light, as an electromagnetic wave, does not require a medium and can travel through a vacuum.