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How does the structure of the earth's interior affect seismic waves?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Earthquakes are made up of 4 different seismic waves, P, S, L and R. L and R are surface waves, and have virtually nothing to do with the interior. However, P and S are body waves and do.
P waves are compressional waves, that is they push and pull against rock in the same direction as the waves move. They are the fastest. S waves vibrate material up and down. Both travel faster in more dense material, and P waves travel slower in liquid while S waves are unable to move through liquid at all.
As the Earth's outer core is liquid, and inner core is very dense, this affects the waves as they travel through the Earth. It speeds them up and slows them down according to the density. Because S can't go through the outer core, there is a "shadow zone" at a certain area on the Earth where there are no S waves at all. P waves also have a smaller shadow zone, where the waves are diflected and bent within the outer core.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIt affects speed & direction of the wave.
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How did scientists learn about earths interior?
rocks and seismic waves
What is a seismic wave that travels through the earths interior?
body waves
Is this question true or false to study earths interior geologists often rely on indirect methods such as evidence from fossils?
no they use seismic waves
How does energy from earths interior cause changes to earths surface?
due to volcanics effects and movement of earth which affect the earth surface
Why do you think scientists study earths interior?
why do you think scientists study earths interior?if you were a scientists ,will you undertake a study of the earths interior?
How does the structure of earths interior affect the wave speed and direction of seismic waves?
deflect
How do scientists know about the structure of the earth's interior?
Because of the study of seismic waves from earthquakes
What is the seismic wave that travel's through the earths interior?
A body wave is a seismic wave that travels through Earths interior.
What is a seismic wave that travels through Earth Interior?
A body wave is a seismic wave that travels through Earths interior.
How did scientists learn about earths interior?
rocks and seismic waves
How do you obtain indirect evidence about earths interior?
Seismic waves
What is a seismic wave that travels through the earths interior?
body waves
The seismic waves that travel through Earths interior are waves.?
body waves
The seismic waves that travel through Earths interior are waves?
body waves
How do geologists learn about the layered structure of earths deep interior?
From seismic interpretations of earthquake date. From computer modeling. From the study of meteorites, From geochemistry and form the study of mantle xenoliths.
In developing a model of earths deep interior most of the evidence was determined from?
Seismic data
Explain how scientists use seismic waves to map the earth's interior?
scientists use seismic waves to map earths interior by seismographs that measure the times at witch seismic waves arrive at different distances from an earth quake.
