Wave motion refers to the transfer of energy through a medium without the permanent displacement of the particles in that medium. Waves can be classified into two main types: transverse waves, where particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave, and longitudinal waves, where particles move parallel to the wave's direction. Common examples include sound waves and water waves. In wave motion, characteristics such as wavelength, frequency, and amplitude define the wave's properties. The wavelength is the distance between successive crests or troughs, frequency is the number of waves passing a point in a given time, and amplitude measures the wave's height. Understanding these concepts is essential in fields like physics and engineering.