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Because as they travel through the earth, the density of the material through which they are travelling will vary. This causes the speed of the wave to change which in turn results in a process known as refraction where the waves direction of propagation changes. As the density of the material in the earth continually increases with depth due to the increasing overburden pressure, the speed of the seismic waves will continuousy change with depth leading to continuous small changes in propogation direction which leads to the formation of a curved propagation path.
Geophysicists make use of this phenomenon to estimate the density and structure of the interior of the earth.
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What else can I help you with?
Why do p wave and s waves follow curved paths?
gravity
Are P-waves and S-waves transverse or longitudinal waves?
P-waves are longitudinal and S-waves are transverse waves.
What type of seismic wave are P waves and S waves?
P and S waves are body waves.
What is the difference Between S waves P waves?
P-waves are faster than s-waves. Both can pass through solid rock, but only p-waves can pass through gases and liquids === ===
What are the two descriptive words for P in P Waves and the S in Swaves?
For P waves, the two descriptive words are Primary (or compressional) waves, while for S waves, the two words are Secondary (or shear) waves.
Do surface waves move faster than P-waves or S-waves?
No, surface waves move slower than P-waves and S-waves. P-waves are the fastest seismic waves, followed by S-waves, and then surface waves. Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface and are responsible for the most damage during an earthquake.
Do p waves or s waves have higher velocity?
P waves have a higher velocity than S waves. This is known because P waves (Primary waves) arrive at recording stations faster than all other waves. S waves (Secondary waves) arrive second at recording stations.
What is s waves and p waves?
P-waves are faster than s-waves. Both can pass through solid rock, but only p-waves can pass through gases and liquids === ===
Are p waves transverse waves or longitudinal waves?
P-waves are longitudinal and S-waves are transverse waves.
What are the three categories of seismic waves?
p wave comes first s wave comes next and last comes surface wave.
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.
Is it true that surface waves move more quickly than p waves and s waves?
no, p waves are the fastest followed by s waves and finally surface waves
