Seismic Waves

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What are Seismic Waves?

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Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the Earth, typically as a result of an earthquake or other geological activity.

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What is a P-Wave?

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A P-Wave, or primary wave, is a type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the material it travels through. It is the fastest seismic wave and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

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What is an S-Wave?

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An S-Wave, or secondary wave, is a type of seismic wave that moves the ground up and down or side to side. It is slower than a P-Wave and can only travel through solids.

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What is a Surface Wave?

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Surface waves are seismic waves that travel along the Earth's surface. They typically cause the most damage during an earthquake.

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What is the focus of an earthquake?

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The focus is the point beneath the Earth's surface where an earthquake originates.

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What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

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The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

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What is earthquake magnitude?

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Magnitude is a measure of the energy released during an earthquake, often quantified using the Richter scale.

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What is a fault?

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A fault is a fracture in the Earth's crust along which movement has occurred.

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What are seismic waves used for?

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Seismic waves are used to study the Earth's interior, locate earthquake epicenters, and assess earthquake damage.

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What is the Richter scale?

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The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.