Earthquakes (Using ESRT P.11)

Front

How many circles are needed to determine the epicenter of an earthquake?

Back

3

Front

What is the primary wave (P-wave) in an earthquake?

Back

The P-wave is a type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the material it travels through, and it is the first wave to arrive at a seismic station.

Front

What is the difference between P-waves and S-waves?

Back

P-waves are compressional waves that can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, while S-waves are shear waves that can only travel through solids.

Front

How do you calculate the time it takes for a P-wave to travel a certain distance?

Back

Time = Distance / Speed. For P-waves, the average speed is approximately 8 km/s.

Front

If a P-wave traveled 3200 km, how long did it take to reach the seismic station?

Back

6 minutes 00 seconds.

Front

What is the significance of the time difference between P-wave and S-wave arrivals?

Back

The time difference helps to determine the distance to the earthquake's epicenter.

Front

If P-waves arrive at 03:22:43 am and S-waves at 03:29:47 am, what is the time difference?

Back

7 minutes 04 seconds.

Front

What is the formula to find the distance to the epicenter using P-wave and S-wave arrival times?

Back

Distance = (Time difference) x (Speed of S-wave) / (Speed of S-wave - Speed of P-wave).

Front

What is the average speed of P-waves?

Back

Approximately 8 km/s.

Front

What is the average speed of S-waves?

Back

Approximately 4.5 km/s.