There are two type of mechanical waves, longitudinal waves and transverse waves. Mechanical waves are not waves that are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum and require a medium to travel through.
Longitudinal waves move parallel to the direction the wave is traveling.
Example:
A spring toy that is being compressed produces a longitudinal wave that travels in the same direction the wave is traveling.
Transverse waves move at a right angle to the direction of a wave.
Example:
A rope that is being moved back and forth produces a transverse wave.
The amplitude of a wave is its maximum distance that particles of the wave are carried from its base position. Amplitude measures the intensity of a wave. In a transverse wave, amplitude is the distance measured up or down from the resting position of the wave. In a longitudinal wave, amplitude measures how compressed the wave becomes.
The frequency of a wave is the number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time.
