Earthquake waves are vibrations that travel through the Earth when an earthquake occurs. These waves are generated by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, usually along faults. There are two main types of earthquake waves: P-waves (primary waves) and S-waves (secondary waves). P-waves are compressional waves that move the ground back and forth, while S-waves are shear waves that move the ground up and down. In addition to P-waves and S-waves, there are also surface waves, which travel along the Earth's surface and can cause the most damage during an earthquake. Surface waves include Love waves and Rayleigh waves. Understanding these waves helps scientists and engineers design buildings and infrastructure that can better withstand seismic activity.