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Because the Earth's core is liquid; S-waves can't travel through liquid.

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Shear waves will not pass through the?

Shear waves will not pass through the outer core of the Earth due to its liquid state. This is known as the "shadow zone" where S-waves are absorbed or refracted. This phenomenon was instrumental in providing evidence for the existence of the Earth's outer core.


What is a body wave that does not penetrate the earth's core?

A body wave that does not penetrate the Earth's core is a compressional wave or P-wave. P-waves travel through the Earth by compressing and expanding the material they pass through, but they do not travel through the outer core because the outer core is liquid.


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.


What evidence do we have that Earth's outer core is molten?

There are two types of seismic body waves that travel through the earth when an earthquake occurs. P-waves and S-waves. When an earthquake occurs it has been observed that there is a zone at the opposite side of the earth where P-waves are detected but S-waves are not. S-waves are not able to travel through liquids where as P-waves can and as such it is believed that the shadow zone is caused by the presence of a liquid outer core.


Who discovered the Outer Core?

The outer core of the Earth was indirectly discovered by detecting seismic waves that travel through it. Scientists used data from earthquakes and seismic waves to infer the existence and properties of the outer core, which lies beneath the mantle.

Related Questions

Which type of waves can travel through earth's outer cores?

Primary waves ( P-waves) can travel through earth's outer core.


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.


Shear waves will not pass through the?

Shear waves will not pass through the outer core of the Earth due to its liquid state. This is known as the "shadow zone" where S-waves are absorbed or refracted. This phenomenon was instrumental in providing evidence for the existence of the Earth's outer core.


What is a body wave that does not penetrate the earth's core?

A body wave that does not penetrate the Earth's core is a compressional wave or P-wave. P-waves travel through the Earth by compressing and expanding the material they pass through, but they do not travel through the outer core because the outer core is liquid.


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.


For earth science what evidence do we have that earth's outer core is molten?

This knowledge is based on the behavior of seismic waves, particularly the behavior of P-waves and S-waves. S-waves are unable to travel through liquids, and this particular wave trait indicates a boundary between the solid mantle and the liquid outer core. As S-Waves do not propagate through the outer core a "shadow" zone is created on the other side of the earth from the source of seismic waves. In this zone no S-waves are detected. The boundary between the inner core and outer core is also detected by a difference in velocities of P-waves. The Earth's magnetic field also originates in the liquid outer core by the movement and currents of molten metal in this layer.


What evidence do we have that Earth's outer core is molten?

There are two types of seismic body waves that travel through the earth when an earthquake occurs. P-waves and S-waves. When an earthquake occurs it has been observed that there is a zone at the opposite side of the earth where P-waves are detected but S-waves are not. S-waves are not able to travel through liquids where as P-waves can and as such it is believed that the shadow zone is caused by the presence of a liquid outer core.


What layer of Earth do Secondary waves NOT travel through?

Secondary waves, also known as S-waves, do not travel through the outer core of the Earth due to its liquid state. S-waves can only propagate through solid materials.


Who discovered the Outer Core?

The outer core of the Earth was indirectly discovered by detecting seismic waves that travel through it. Scientists used data from earthquakes and seismic waves to infer the existence and properties of the outer core, which lies beneath the mantle.


What part of the earth does not receive direct p waves from a quake?

The outer core of the Earth does not receive direct P waves from a quake due to the difference in density between the outer core and the inner core. P waves can only travel through solid material, so they are refracted when they reach the outer core, creating a shadow zone where they are not detected.