Seismic Waves

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Seismic Waves - P-Waves and S-Waves

Similarities

  • Travel through solids
  • They curve with increasing depth

Differences

  • P-Waves travel through liquids as well as solids
  • P-Waves are Longitudinal
  • S-Waves are Transverse
  • S-Waves are slower than P-Waves
  • Transverse waves vibrate at 90° to the direction of travel
  • Longitudinal waves' vibrations are along the same direction as the wave is travelling.

Overall comparison

P waves are able to travel through Solids and Liquids, enabling them to travel through the Inner and Outer Core. However, they refract with the change in density leaving a small shadow on either side of the globe. S-Waves, one the other hand, can only travel through solids and so leave a large shadow covering most of the opposite side of the globe. After and Earthquake, the first waves to arrive at a seismometer are P-Waves as they travel faster than S-Waves.

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