In seismology, S waves, also known as secondary waves or shear waves, are a type of elastic wave that travels through the interior of solid materials. They are one of the two main types of elastic body waves, the other being P waves or primary waves. S waves are characterized by their side-to-side, or transverse, motion, which causes the ground to shake in a shearing motion. This is in contrast to P waves, which move in a longitudinal manner, causing the ground to compress and expand in the direction of the wave's travel. S waves are slower than P waves and cannot travel through liquids, making them absent in water or other fluid environments. read more >>

In seismology, S-waves, secondary waves, or shear waves (sometimes called an elastic S-wave) are a type of elastic wave, and are one of the two main types of elastic body waves, so named because they move through the body of an object, unlike surface waves.read more >>