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Why do seismic waves travel faster through a solid rock than through water?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
We are talking about the seisimc waves in an earthquake. The difference in the speed of travel of the two waves has to do with what has to happen to the medium (the ground or the earth) to transmit the energy of the seismic wave. Let's look. The P wave is a longitudinal wave or a compression wave. The force is applied in the direction that the wave is traveling. The ground must move in that direction. Ground or earth is pretty incompressible, so the energy is transferred pretty quickly. In the S wave, the medium is displaced in a transverse (up and down - compared to the line of travel) way, and the medium must shear or "move away" from the material right next to it to cause the shear and transmit the wave. This takes more time, and this is why the S wave moves more slowly than the P wave in seismic events. Need a link to seismic waves? You got it. Wikipedia has a good article, and the pictures are worth the trip over to view them.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThey travel through solid rock faster than water because, theseismic waves squiggle and since it uses more energy and is slower than primary waves, it stops altogether, unlike the primary waves that only slow down briefly.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoNo. Seismic waves travel fastest through solids.
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Will seismic wave traveling through a solid go faster or slower than a seismic wave traveling through liquid why or why not?
why can s-wave can't travel but p-waves can
Will a seismic wave go faster through a liquid or a solid?
Solid, because that kind of wave goes fastest through solids
In what direction do seismic waves carry the energy of an earthquake?
Seismic waves are the earths crust vibrating. there are two types of waves P-waves and S-waves (Primary and Secondary) Primary waves travel faster than s waves and can travel through solid and liquid, S-waves can only travel through solids
How does earths solid inner core affect seismic waves?
They go faster through the inner core than the liquid outer core.
What type of waves is produced during an earthquake?
Seismic waves consist ofP waves which travel through the Earth fast. They compress the medium they travel through;S waves which also travel through the Earth, shearing the solid Earth as they go. S waves do not travel through liquid;Surface waves which can cause the Earth to undulate like water waves or surface waves that cause the Earth to shear.
Through what do seismic waves travel fastest?
seismic wave travels faster through solid rock and slower through water, but i dont know why!
Will a seismic wave traveling through solid go faster or slower than a seismic wave traveling through liquid?
Mechanical waves (like seismic waves) will travel faster through a solid than a liquid.
Would a seismic wave travel faster through a solid or a liquid?
liquid
Will a seismic wave traveling through a solid go faster or slower than a seismic wave traveling through liquid?
Seismic waves travels faster through solid rock than water because their speed depends on the density and composition of material that they pass through.Solid rock is denser than water, hence the energy from seismic waves transfer faster through solid rock than in water.
Why does a seismic waves travel faster through solid rock than through water?
Seismic waves travels faster through solid rock than water because their speed depends on the density and composition of material that they pass through.Solid rock is denser than water, hence the energy from seismic waves transfer faster through solid rock than in water.
What did scientists use to figure out that earth's inner core is solid rock?
Seismic waves travel faster when they travel through the core
Will seismic wave traveling through a solid go faster or slower than a seismic wave traveling through liquid why or why not?
why can s-wave can't travel but p-waves can
What evidence did scientists use to figure out earth's inner core is solid rock?
Seismic waves travel faster when they travel through the core
Will a seismic wave travelling through a solid go faster or slower than a seismic wave travelling through liquid?
The velocity of seismic waves is controlled by the density and elastic properties of the material through which they travel. Solids tend to have larger elastic modulii than fluids. As the speed of a seismic wave increases as the elastic modulii increase, this means that they tend to travel faster through solids.
Why do seismic waves travel faster through solid rock than through water?
Water has a higher density than rock. -Gordon Crocker
Why does a seismic wave travels faster through solid rock than through water?
Seismic waves travels faster through solid rock than water because their speed depends on the density and composition of material that they pass through.Solid rock is denser than water, hence the energy from seismic waves transfer faster through solid rock than in water.
Will a seismic wave go faster through a liquid or a solid?
Solid, because that kind of wave goes fastest through solids
