There is an excellent animated illustration of the various type so seismic waves, and liquid surface waves, at
http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/Demos/waves/wavemotion.html
S-waves are transverse waves, in which molecular motion is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. Inside a liquid, such motion is rapidly attentuated by viscous forces, since molecules do not have to return to the same place.
Why is it that S wave cannot pass through liquids?
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