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From Science Explorer Prentice Hall Earth Science:

" Geologists use seismic waves to locate an earthquake's epicenter. Seismic waves travel at different speeds. P waves arrive at a seismograph first, with S waves following close behind. To tell how far the epicenter is from the seismograph, scientists measure the difference between the arrival time of the P waves and S waves. The farther away an earthquake is, the greater the time between arrival of the P waves and the S waves."

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Related Questions

How would you locate the epicenter of an earthquake once you have determined the distance from the epicenter of the earthquake to each of three seismographic stations?

To locate the epicenter of an earthquake using the distances from three seismographic stations, you would identify the point where the circles with radii equal to the distances intersect. This point is the epicenter of the earthquake. The intersection point forms a triangle with the three stations, and the epicenter is typically located at the centroid or center of gravity of this triangle.


Can geologist use data from only two seismographic stations to locate an earthquake's epicenter?

yes it can


What is the fewer number of seismographic stations that must record the arrival time of waves in order for the epicenter of an earthquake to be located?

3


What is the fewest number of seismographic stations that record the arrival time of P and S waves in order to for the epicenter of an earthquake to be located?

3


What is the fewest number of seismographic stations that must record the arrival time of P and S waves in order for the epicenter of an earthquake to be located?

At a minimum, three seismographic stations are needed to triangulate the epicenter of an earthquake. By comparing the arrival times of P and S waves at each station, the distance from each station to the epicenter can be determined. The intersection of these circles of possible epicenter locations from each station narrows down the epicenter's location.


What is the fewest number of seismographic stations that must record the arrival time of P and S-waves?

That depends on what information you are interested in. A single seismic station station measuring the P and S-wave arrival time can make an estimate of the distance to the epicentre of the earthquake and based on this information and the amplitude of the measured waves can make an estimate of the earthquakes magnitude, whereas a minimum of three stations are needed to find the location of the epicentre. For more information on this process, please see the related question.


What is the fewest number of seismograph stations that are needed to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?

Three seismograph stations are needed to locate the epicenter of an earthquake. By measuring the arrival times of seismic waves at three different stations, scientists can use triangulation to pinpoint the earthquake's epicenter.


What is the minimum number of seismic stations needed to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?

The minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter is THREE.


How many stations are needed to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?

At least three stations are needed to locate the epicenter of an earthquake using triangulation. By comparing the arrival times of seismic waves at these stations, seismologists can pinpoint the epicenter. Additional stations can improve the accuracy of the location.


What is the minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake epicenter?

The minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter is THREE.


How many stations do you need to locate the epicenter of the earthquake?

To locate the epicenter of an earthquake, you typically need a minimum of three seismic stations. By triangulating the arrival times of the seismic waves at these stations, scientists can estimate the epicenter's location. More stations can increase the accuracy of the calculation.


What is the minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake and epicenter?

you need to have 3 seismic stations to triangulate the location of the earthquake and remember a earthquake can be from the inside of the earth but not necessarily at the epicenter because no epicenter is a straight line down.