Here's a breakdown:

* Mechanical wave: A disturbance that travels through a medium, transferring energy without transferring matter.

* Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a particle in the medium from its resting position as the wave passes through.

Think of a wave on a string:

* The equilibrium position is where the string is at rest.

* When the wave passes, the string moves up and down.

* The amplitude is the highest point the string reaches above its equilibrium position (or the lowest point it reaches below).

The amplitude of a mechanical wave is directly related to the energy carried by the wave:

* Higher amplitude = More energy

* Lower amplitude = Less energy

Let me know if you have any more questions about waves!