Earthquakes

Front

What is a tsunami?

Back

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by large underwater disturbances, such as earthquakes, that displace a significant amount of water.

Front

What are P-waves?

Back

P-waves, or primary waves, are compressional seismic waves that travel through solids, liquids, and gases, and are the fastest type of seismic wave.

Front

What are S-waves?

Back

S-waves, or secondary waves, are shear seismic waves that can only travel through solids and are slower than P-waves.

Front

What happens to P-waves and S-waves when they reach the outer core?

Back

P-waves are transmitted through the outer core, but S-waves are not transmitted.

Front

Why are only P-waves recorded at certain seismic stations?

Back

Only P-waves are recorded at seismic stations because they can travel through liquids, while S-waves cannot.

Front

How do P-waves compare to S-waves in terms of speed?

Back

P-waves are always faster than S-waves in any given earth material.

Front

What is the mantle-core boundary?

Back

The mantle-core boundary is the transition zone between the Earth's solid mantle and the molten outer core, where the material changes from solid rock to molten iron and nickel.

Front

What evidence supports the existence of the mantle-core boundary?

Back

The evidence includes the observation that only P-waves are recorded on the opposite side of Earth after an earthquake, indicating a change in material.

Front

What is the difference between compressional waves and shear waves?

Back

Compressional waves (P-waves) move material in the same direction as the wave, while shear waves (S-waves) move material perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

Front

What is the role of seismic stations in studying earthquakes?

Back

Seismic stations record the arrival times and types of seismic waves, helping scientists understand the Earth's interior structure and the nature of earthquakes.