science earthquakes

type of wave that originate at the epicenter.

surface wave

can only travel through solids

secondary wave

waves that travel by an up and down motion

s-wave

slowest of the seismic waves

surface wave

wave that travel by compressing and stretching is

p-wave

can travel through solids and liquids

p-wave

second wave to arrive

s-wave

fastest of the seismic waves

p-wave

How can we use a seismograph like the one below to figure out how far a seismic station is from the epicenter of the earthquake.

You can find the distance between the faster p-waves lines compared to the slower s-waves lines recorded on the seismograph.

On the richter scale how much more energy is released in a category 6 then a category 5. And how would this compare to a category 4

There is 32 more times energy from a level 6 to a 5 and the difference between a level 6 to a level 4 is a 6 has about 1000 more times the energy.

How many seismic stations are required to locate the epicenter of an earthquake? explain why

A minimum of 3 seismic stations so you can see where all 3 points touch to get the exact location of the epicenter rather than only have two sources of seismic stations.