Seismic waves

6.07

What are earthquakes caused by?

Sudden rock movements underground

What waves does the vibrations send through the Earth?

Seismic waves (shock waves)

Does seismic waves get weaker as they travel through the ground?

Yes they get weaker.

What is the detecter and the recording equipment used to detect seismic waves called?

The sensitive instrument called a seismometer detects the seismic waves. The incoming vibrations are recorded as a graph on a slowly revolving drum. Together, the detector and recording equipment are known as a seismograph. The graph produced is a seismograph.

Are p-waves (primary waves) longitudinal or transverse?

Longitudinal.

Which seismic waves are the fastest to arrive?

P-waves (primary waves).

Does P-waves travel the fastest through solids or liquids?

Solids.

Are s-waves (secondary waves) transverse or longitudinal?

Transverse.

Does s-waves(secondary waves) arrive after or before the p-waves (primary waves)?

After.

Can s-waves(secondary waves) pass through solids and liquids?

They can through solids deep in the Earth, but not through solids such as molten (melted rock).

What waves are the slowest and last to arrive?

Surface waves.

What are the most destructive waves?

Surface waves.

What does surface waves travel through?

Earth’s surface.

What are longitudinal waves? (check up)

Waves in which the vibrations are in the direction of travel (i.e. backwards and forwards).

What are transverse waves?

Waves in which the vibrations are at the right-angles to the direction of travel. (e.g. up and down or from side to side)