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Primary seismic waves (also called P-waves) are a type of ground motion most commonly associated with earthquakes, though the waves are also caused by large explosions (nuclear tests) and would be expected from an asteroid impact. For a primary seismic wave, the motion of the ground is caused by a series of compressions and decompressions in which the ground at any point is moving on an axis which passes through the epicenter, while each individual wave front is spherical around the epicenter. Since solids (such as rock) are not readily compressible by significant amounts, the vibratory movement is very slight and the wave travels very rapidly. As a consequence, P-waves travel faster than Secondary waves (S-waves) also generated by the same seismic event. Consequently, P-waves are the source of the deep rumbling sound which can be heard at the beginning of an earthquake just before the far more destructive S-waves arrive.

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Related Questions

What is the difference in time between when a primary wave arrives and a secondary wave arrives?

5 seconds


What happens to the time difference between primary and secondary waves as the distance travels longer?

The secondary wave breaks up.


What happens to the time difference between primary and secondary waves as the distance traveled get longer?

the secondary wave breaks up


What happens to the time difference between primary and secondary wave as the distance traveled gets longer?

As the distance traveled by the primary and secondary waves increases, the time difference between them also increases. This is because primary waves travel faster through the Earth than secondary waves, resulting in a greater time gap between their arrivals at a given location.


Distinguish between a primary wave and a secondary wave?

A primary wave is a strong vibration or wave that hits earths surface (P) and a secondary wave (S) is a wave that hits soon after but not nearly as big.


What wave is called the secondary wave?

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What happens to the time difference between primary and secondary waves as the distance traveled gets longer?

The time difference between primary (P) and secondary (S) waves becomes larger as the distance traveled by the waves increases. This is because P-waves travel faster than S-waves, so the time delay between their arrivals at a seismometer station increases with distance.


Which type of wave is a secondary wave?

Any wave has two directions: the up and down direction (primary wave) and the side to side direction (secondary wave).


What is a sentence for secondary wave?

The secondary wave of the earthquake cause little damage, only a few buildings fell.


What are the 3 seismic waves?

i)surface wave ii)primary wave iii)secondary wave


What is the p-s interval?

It is the difference in arrival time between the primary and secondary waves. Primary waves always arrive first because they have a higher velocity. The interval value is used in determining the location of an earthquake.


How are primary and secondary waves alike How are they different?

the petrographical interaction between them are at different levels therefore occurring in different wave lengths.