Seismic waves Flashcards
What is seismology?
seismology is the study of earthquakes and seismic waves that move around the earth.
Seismic waves are..?
Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the earth layers, that imparts low-frequency acoustic energy (the mechanical energy created by sound waves, which are vibrations that travel through a medium like air, water, or solids)
Throughout the lesson of “seismic waves” specifically, we learned about distribution / and recording of seismic waves: but
using what equipment?
seismograph - which measures and records ground motion
Surface waves….?
Travel along the surface of the Earth, and are the slowest of the three types of seismic wave. They usually have the largest amplitude and cause the most damage
(a mechanical wave that moves along the boundary between two different media, such as solids or water)
Name two (types) seismic waves in relation to mediums its travelling in.
Body waves and Surface waves
Body waves….?
Can travel through the interior of the earth
which means it arrives faster than surface waves.
(there is two sub-category for the types of body waves)
In class we learned about the two different body waves what are they?
P-waves (primary waves)
S-waves (secondary waves)
Explain the Primary wave.
(P-waves) is the fastest type of seismic wave which is longitudinal.
-This allows it to move through solid rock and fluids (allowing it to propagate through mantle and liquid outer core very quickly)
- first wave measured in on an Oscilloscope
Explain the Secondary wave.
(S-waves) are the second wave and are slower,
These waves can only move through solid rock and not through any liquid medium. (due to lack of shear strength and rigidity of particles in liquids, making it hard for transverse wave to pass through and are absorbed because of it)
This wave is an transverse wave.
In class we learnt about the types of seismic waves and the order they arrive in,
State the order of arrival of the 3 seismic waves.
1) P-wave
2) S-wave
3) Surface waves
