What can I use to model wave behavior as tranfer of energy without net transfer of material?

Question

I'm trying to find a site or something that sets out a mathematical model that models wave behavior as the transfer of energy from one position to another without net tranfer of any material. I'm not sure where to start really. This isn't school work. You can just write it down if you like.

Answer 1

(Not exactly a mathematical model...) but I like to use a long spring, sort-of like a slinky, to represent waves.  It is especially nice to represent the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves.