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they are detirmened how high the s wave is

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Q: How are p and s waves used to determine the distance to an earthquake?
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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 would you use to determine the distance that seismic waves have traveled from the origin to that station?

The difference in arrival times between P and S-waves as measured on a seismometer can be used to determine the distance to the origin.


How is the fact that P-waves travel faster that S-waves used to determine the distance of an earthquake epicenter from an seismograph station?

Using the difference in their arrival times and an estimate of their velocity of propagation you can calculate the distance of the earthquake epicentre from the seismometer recording station. If you do this from three or more different seismometer stations you can triangulate it's position. For more information please see the related question.


The distance between an earthquake epicenter and the location of a seismograph can be calculated because?

4. shear waves and compression waves travel at different speeds, therefore the difference in arrival time can be used to fix the distance.


What is the process that is used to find an earthquake's epicenter?

Triangulation. First, they calculate the time between the first and second - primary and secondary - seismic waves created in an earthquake and use this information to determine how far the seismometer is from the epicenter of the earthquake. A circle is drawn around the seismometer so that it is in the center and the radius is equal to the calculated distance. Using this information from three different seismometers, two more circles are drawn and the intersecting point of the three circles is where the epicenter of the earthquake is located.

Related questions

How is the fact that P waves travel more quickly the S waves used to determine the distance of an earthquake's epicenter from a seismograph station?

Given the difference in arrival times, you can determine the distance from the epicenter.


What type of wave can be used to determine the location of an earthquake focus?

Seismic waves can be used to determine the location of an earthquake focus. These waves are triggered by tectonic plates.


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 is used to determine the Richter magnitude of an earthquake?

The amplitude of seismic waves as measured by a seismometer.


What would you use to determine the distance that seismic waves have traveled from the origin to that station?

The difference in arrival times between P and S-waves as measured on a seismometer can be used to determine the distance to the origin.


What is the method used to figure out the epicenter of an earthquake?

epicenter and seiesmic waves, find the distance and seismograph stations


How is the fact that P-waves travel faster that S-waves used to determine the distance of an earthquake epicenter from an seismograph station?

Using the difference in their arrival times and an estimate of their velocity of propagation you can calculate the distance of the earthquake epicentre from the seismometer recording station. If you do this from three or more different seismometer stations you can triangulate it's position. For more information please see the related question.


What determines the speed of a seismic wave?

By measuring the difference in arrival times at a seismometer station they can be used to determine the distance to the epicentre of an earthquake. They may also be used to estimate the properties of the subsurface and it's structure (refraction and reflection seismology). Please see the related questions for further information.


How can seismic waves be used to determine an earthquake's epicenter?

The epicenr can be found by location the sound in the waves carried.


The distance between an earthquake epicenter and the location of a seismograph can be calculated because?

4. shear waves and compression waves travel at different speeds, therefore the difference in arrival time can be used to fix the distance.


How can be determined the earthquake epicenter from seismic waves?

The simplified answer is that it works much in the same way you would determine the source of a sound (which is also in waves). Multiple measurements of the intensity are taken from different locations are used to triangulate an earthquake.


Which instruments is used for recording Earthquake waves?

seismographs