What are the characteristics of a P-Wave and S-Wave?

P-waves are also known as seismic waves. One of the characteristics of P-waves are a that they can travel through a continuum made up of gases, liquids and solids such as the Earth. Another characteristic of P-waves are that they can shake the ground in the same direction in which the wave is moving and it can also shake the earth in the opposite direction of the moving wave.