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P-waves are faster than s-waves. Both can pass through solid rock, but only p-waves can pass through gases and liquids === ===

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Jayda Quigley

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13y ago

S waves are shear waves. P waves are compression waves.

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Q: What is the difference Between S waves P waves?
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Is it true that the closer an earthquake the greater the time difference between the arrival of P-waves and the arrival of S-waves?

False. The closer you are to the epicentre, the smaller the time difference between the arrival of P and S-waves.


What is the difference between s and p wave?

As P-waves travel at a higher velocity than S-waves they arrive at a seismometer station before the S-waves. The difference between their arrival time can be used to calculate the distance from the seismometer station to the epicentre.


What happens to The difference in arrival times between p waves And s waves as The distance From the earthquake increase?

The difference between the arrival times increases as the distance from an earthquake epicentre increases as S-waves travel more slowly than P-waves so the greater the distance the further they lag behind.


What is the difference in speed and mode of travel between p-waves and s-waves?

P-waves stand for primary waves, but a good trick is to think of the P as standing for pressure, because P waves are compression waves. S-wave stands for secondary wave, but the trick is to think of the S as standing for shear wave. This is because S-waves move in a shearing (side to side) motion. The means that S waves cannot travel through liquid, and also travel slower than P-waves.


Where is the epicenter of an earthquake if the arrival time difference between P and S waves is zero?

Your standing on it! P-waves travel faster than S-waves through the Earth. As such the further away a seismometer station is from the epicentre of an Earthquake, the larger the difference between arrival times will be. By the same logic this means that the closer you get to the epicentre, the smaller the difference in arrival time will be until your at the epicentre when the difference will be zero!

Related questions

Is it true that the closer an earthquake the greater the time difference between the arrival of P-waves and the arrival of S-waves?

False. The closer you are to the epicentre, the smaller the time difference between the arrival of P and S-waves.


What is the difference between p and s waves arrival time?

As P-waves travel at a higher velocity than S-waves they arrive at a seismometer station before the S-waves. The difference between their arrival time can be used to calculate the distance from the seismometer station to the epicentre.


What is the difference between s and p wave?

As P-waves travel at a higher velocity than S-waves they arrive at a seismometer station before the S-waves. The difference between their arrival time can be used to calculate the distance from the seismometer station to the epicentre.


What happens to The difference in arrival times between p waves And s waves as The distance From the earthquake increase?

The difference between the arrival times increases as the distance from an earthquake epicentre increases as S-waves travel more slowly than P-waves so the greater the distance the further they lag behind.


What difference between P-waves and S-waves is used to find an earthquake's epicenter?

The difference in arrival time is used to find the distance to an Earthquake's epicentre.


What are the similarities between P-waves and S-waves?

They are waves.


The distance between a seismic station and the earthquake epicenter is determined from the?

The difference in arrival times of P and S waves.


What is the difference in speed and mode of travel between p-waves and s-waves?

P-waves stand for primary waves, but a good trick is to think of the P as standing for pressure, because P waves are compression waves. S-wave stands for secondary wave, but the trick is to think of the S as standing for shear wave. This is because S-waves move in a shearing (side to side) motion. The means that S waves cannot travel through liquid, and also travel slower than P-waves.


A seismograph station can determine its distance from an earthquake's epicenter by .?

P-waves and S-waves are released by an earthquake at the same time and travel out from the epicentre in all directions. However P-waves travel faster than S-waves so the further away from the earthquake's epicentre the greater the lead the P-waves have on the S-waves. Observation of the seismogram trace at the seismometer station will allow the scientists to find the P-wave and S-wave arrival times and measure the difference between them. As the P-waves are faster they always arrive first (hence their name - primary wave). The greater the difference between the time that the P-waves and S-waves first arrive (i.e. the greater the lead the P-waves have), the further the distance to the epicentre. They are able to use the time difference along with an estimate of the speed of the P-waves and S-waves to find the distance from the station to the earthquakes epicentre. For more information on this please see the related question.


Where is the epicenter of an earthquake if the arrival time difference between P and S waves is zero?

Your standing on it! P-waves travel faster than S-waves through the Earth. As such the further away a seismometer station is from the epicentre of an Earthquake, the larger the difference between arrival times will be. By the same logic this means that the closer you get to the epicentre, the smaller the difference in arrival time will be until your at the epicentre when the difference will be zero!


What are similarities between S-waves P-waves and surface waves?

they start at a earthquake.


What is the difference between longitual waves and transverse waves?

longitudinal waves travel in the direction parallel to the Surface, which are P waves, and transverse waves travel in the direction perpendicular to the surface, which causes destructive earthquakes. Which are S waves.