answersLogoWhite

0

Unlike the P-wave, the S-waves, or shear waves, cannot travel through liquids, and this causes a shadow zone for S-waves opposite to where they originate(caused by the molten outer core of the Earth).

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Earth Science

What is one way that scientists know the outer core is liquid?

Scientists know the outer core is liquid because S waves, which cannot travel through liquid, are not detected beyond the core. Additionally, seismic waves from earthquakes have shown that P waves slow down significantly when passing through the outer core, indicating it is a liquid layer.


What happens to seismic waves when they pass through the liquid outer core?

There are two types of waves. There are S waves (sheer waves) and P waves (compressional waves). The S waves won't travel through the outer core because it's a liquid, but the P waves will go through it and continue going through the inner core as well.


What happens when s waves hit the outer core of earth?

S-waves cannot travel through the liquid outer core because it cannot support shear stress. Instead, they are either absorbed or reflected when they reach the outer core boundary, causing a shadow zone on the opposite side of the Earth from the earthquake where these waves are not detected.


Can secondary waves travel through the center of the earth?

No, because to reach the center of the Earth, they need to pass through the outer core. Secondary waves, or S-waves, can't pass through liquids, such as the liquid outer core, so they can't thus even reach the center of the Earth.


Which type of seismic wave cannot travel through the core?

S-Waves, or shear waves cannot travel through the liquid outer core because liquids have no shear and therefore shear waves cannot propagate through them http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-wave

Related Questions

What body wave can't move through the liquid outer core?

S waves cannot travel through the outer core because they can only travel through solids, and the outer core is liquid.


What stops secondary waves?

Liquid outer core


What is one way that scientists know the outer core is liquid?

Scientists know the outer core is liquid because S waves, which cannot travel through liquid, are not detected beyond the core. Additionally, seismic waves from earthquakes have shown that P waves slow down significantly when passing through the outer core, indicating it is a liquid layer.


What earth layer are s waves not transmitted?

S waves are not transmitted through the Earth's outer core because it is liquid, and S waves cannot travel through liquids. This creates a shadow zone on the opposite side of the Earth from an earthquake where S waves are not detected.


What waves are refracted and what waves are absorbed by earth's outer core?

The sudden density change from the lower mantle to the outer core causes P-waves (compression or longitudinal waves) to be refracted and S-waves (shear or transverse waves) to be absorbed as the outer core is liquid and so cannot support the propagation of S-waves.


How have scientist determined that the outer core of earth is liquid?

Scientists have determined that the outer core of Earth is liquid through seismic wave analysis. By studying the behavior of seismic waves as they pass through the Earth, scientists have found that S-waves are unable to travel through the outer core, indicating that it is liquid. This information has been crucial in our understanding of Earth's structure and dynamics.


What wave does not pass through liquid outer core?

Transverse waves do not pass through the liquid outer core of the Earth. These waves vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, making it unable to pass through the liquid outer core due to its fluid nature.


How did you discover that the outer core was liquid?

Scientists discovered that the outer core of the Earth is liquid by studying seismic waves generated by earthquakes. They observed that S waves do not travel through the outer core, indicating that it is liquid, while P waves do, suggesting that the inner core is solid. This finding led to the understanding of the Earth's layered structure.


What happens to seismic waves when they pass through the liquid outer core?

There are two types of waves. There are S waves (sheer waves) and P waves (compressional waves). The S waves won't travel through the outer core because it's a liquid, but the P waves will go through it and continue going through the inner core as well.


What happens when s waves hit the outer core of earth?

S-waves cannot travel through the liquid outer core because it cannot support shear stress. Instead, they are either absorbed or reflected when they reach the outer core boundary, causing a shadow zone on the opposite side of the Earth from the earthquake where these waves are not detected.


How do data seismic waves indicate that earths outer core is liquid?

Because since secondary waves cannot pass through liquids or solids, and the waves can't pass thruogh the outer core than that means that the outer core is not soild.


Can secondary waves travel through the center of the earth?

No, because to reach the center of the Earth, they need to pass through the outer core. Secondary waves, or S-waves, can't pass through liquids, such as the liquid outer core, so they can't thus even reach the center of the Earth.