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A little background first.
When an earthquake wave arrives at a seismograph station, the first wave to hit is called the P wave. The second is called the S wave.
It turns out that the P wave is a compression wave and the S wave is a shear wave. A compression wave is a direct shove (or tug) parallel to the direction the wave is traveling. A shear wave is a side-to-side shake at right angles to the direction the wave is traveling; transverse to the travel direction, in other words. Therefore the S wave is also known as a transverse wave.
The letters P and S actually come from the Latin for First and Second, "primus" and 'secundus." The English "primary" and "secondary" doesn't quite have the same meaning, but it will help you remember which arrives when. "Push" and "Shear" or "Shake" will help you remember which kind of wave has which kind of motion.
The time between the P and S wave occurs because the compression wave travels through the Earth faster than the shear wave does. Since the shear wave is slower, the further you are from the epicenter of the earthquake the longer the time between the P and S waves. Seismologists use this to determine how far the epicenter was from the seismograph. And by using distances from three or more seismometer stations at once, they can find the earthquake's epicenter.
Another neat thing about the P and S waves is that a compression wave will go through a fluid like water or air, while a shear wave won't. Because S waves won't go through the outer layers of the Earth's core, we know that those layers are liquid.
What else can I help you with?
Waves produced by earthquakes are called?
Waves produced by earthquakes are called seismic waves. These waves can be further categorized into primary (P-waves), secondary (S-waves), and surface waves.
What waves are that travel outward from the epicenter are called?
Seismic waves that travel outward from the epicenter of an earthquake are referred to as body waves or surface waves. Body waves include P waves and S waves, while surface waves include Love waves and Rayleigh waves.
What is the first type of wave in an earthquake called?
The first type of wave in an earthquake is called the primary wave or P-wave. P-waves are the fastest seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior, causing the ground to move back and forth in the direction the wave is traveling.
What does the S wave and P wave stand for?
In seismology, P waves refer to primary waves, which are the fastest seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior. S waves, or secondary waves, are slower than P waves and travel only through solid materials, not through liquids or gases. Both types of waves are created by earthquakes and are used to study the Earth's interior.
When do P waves arrive at the surface in relation to S waves?
P waves arrive before S waves during an earthquake, as P waves are faster and can travel through solid rock, while S waves can only travel through solids and are slower. This difference in arrival time can be used to determine the distance of the earthquake epicenter from the seismograph station.
What types of waves are p waves and s waves called?
seismic waves
Waves produced by earthquakes are called?
Waves produced by earthquakes are called seismic waves. These waves can be further categorized into primary (P-waves), secondary (S-waves), and surface waves.
What waves are that travel outward from the epicenter are called?
Seismic waves that travel outward from the epicenter of an earthquake are referred to as body waves or surface waves. Body waves include P waves and S waves, while surface waves include Love waves and Rayleigh waves.
What is the first type of wave in an earthquake called?
The first type of wave in an earthquake is called the primary wave or P-wave. P-waves are the fastest seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior, causing the ground to move back and forth in the direction the wave is traveling.
What type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the ground?
Longitudinal Waves
What is the abbreviation for primary waves?
The abbreviation for primary waves is P-waves.
Why are P-waves called P-waves?
They are given this name in seismology because they are the fastest travelling of the seismic body waves released by an earthquake. Because they are the fastest, they are detected by seismometer stations first. Hence P for primary wave.
What does the S wave and P wave stand for?
In seismology, P waves refer to primary waves, which are the fastest seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior. S waves, or secondary waves, are slower than P waves and travel only through solid materials, not through liquids or gases. Both types of waves are created by earthquakes and are used to study the Earth's interior.
Seismic from the focus that are compressional?
Called Primary, or P, waves :3
When do P waves arrive at the surface in relation to S waves?
P waves arrive before S waves during an earthquake, as P waves are faster and can travel through solid rock, while S waves can only travel through solids and are slower. This difference in arrival time can be used to determine the distance of the earthquake epicenter from the seismograph station.
Can P waves travel through liquids?
P-waves are type of elastic wave, also called seismic waves, that can travel through gases (such as sounds), elastic solids and liquids, including the Earth. P-waves can be produced by earthquakes and recorded by seismometers. The name P-wave stands for primary wave, as the P-wave is the fastest among the elastic waves, compared to the S-waves.(Sources Wikipedia). Hope that helps! :D
Are P-waves and S-waves transverse or longitudinal waves?
P-waves are longitudinal and S-waves are transverse waves.
