Earth Formation and P- and S-waves (test study guide)

Front

What are P-waves?

Back

P-waves, or primary waves, are seismic waves that compress and expand the material they move through. They are the fastest seismic waves and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Front

What are S-waves?

Back

S-waves, or secondary waves, are seismic waves that move the ground up and down or side to side. They are slower than P-waves and can only travel through solids.

Front

What is the shadow zone in seismology?

Back

The shadow zone is an area on the Earth's surface where no seismic waves are detected after an earthquake, due to the refraction and absorption of P-waves and S-waves by the Earth's core.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

How do P-waves behave when they encounter the Earth's outer core?

Back

P-waves are refracted when they encounter the Earth's outer core, which is liquid, allowing them to travel through it.

Front

How do S-waves behave when they encounter the Earth's outer core?

Back

S-waves are reflected and do not travel through the Earth's outer core because it is liquid.

Front

What is the relationship between the speed of P-waves and S-waves?

Back

P-waves travel faster than S-waves, which is why they are the first to be detected by seismographs after an earthquake.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Front

What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

Back

The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake originates, known as the focus.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Front

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Back

The focus is the actual location within the Earth where an earthquake starts, and it is usually located deep underground.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Front

What is the role of seismographs in studying earthquakes?

Back

Seismographs are instruments that detect and record the vibrations caused by seismic waves, helping scientists analyze the location and magnitude of earthquakes.

Front

What is the difference between the amplitude and frequency of seismic waves?

Back

Amplitude refers to the height of the wave, indicating the energy of the wave, while frequency refers to how often the waves occur in a given time period.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1