S and P waves Flashcard

Front

What are S waves?

Back

S waves, or secondary waves, are seismic waves that move through the Earth and can only travel through solids. They are slower than P waves and cause the ground to shake perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

Front

What are P waves?

Back

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

Front

What is the difference between S waves and P waves?

Back

The main difference is that P waves can travel through both solids and liquids, while S waves can only travel through solids.

Front

What is the Earth's crust?

Back

The Earth's crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, composed of solid rock. It is relatively thin compared to the other layers.

Front

What is the mantle?

Back

The mantle is the layer of the Earth located between the crust and the core. It is composed of semi-solid rock that flows slowly over time.

Front

What is the outer core?

Back

The outer core is the layer of the Earth beneath the mantle, composed of liquid iron and nickel. It is responsible for Earth's magnetic field.

Front

What is the inner core?

Back

The inner core is the solid innermost layer of the Earth, composed primarily of iron and nickel, and is extremely hot.

Front

How do S waves travel through the Earth?

Back

S waves travel by moving particles in a perpendicular direction to the wave's travel direction, creating a side-to-side motion.

Front

How do P waves travel through the Earth?

Back

P waves travel by compressing and expanding the material they move through, creating a push-pull motion.

Front

What happens to S waves when they reach a liquid layer?

Back

S waves cannot travel through liquid layers, which causes them to be absorbed or reflected at the boundary.