Seismic Waves and Their Properties

The video explains how time vs. distance graphs for P, S, and surface waves are constructed by analyzing data from numerous earthquakes. It details how seismic waves travel at different rates, affecting their arrival times at various distances from the earthquake's hypocenter. The video also covers the complexity of wave paths through the Earth's mantle and crust, and how seismograms can be used to create travel-time curves to locate earthquakes by measuring the time difference between P and S wave arrivals.

What does the y-axis represent in the time vs. distance graph for seismic waves?

• Distance from the earthquake

• Depth of the earthquake

• Magnitude of the earthquake

• Elapsed time since the earthquake

Which type of seismic wave is compressional?

• P wave

• S wave

• Surface wave

• Rayleigh wave

How does the distance of a seismic station from an earthquake affect the wave arrival times?

• The arrival times become closer together

• The arrival times remain the same

• The arrival times become further apart

• The arrival times are unaffected

What phenomena affect the complexity of seismic wave paths?

• Only refraction

• Only reflection

• Reflection, refraction, and damping

• Only damping

What can the time difference between P and S wave arrivals be used to determine?

• The magnitude of the earthquake

• The depth of the earthquake

• The type of seismic waves

• The distance from the seismometer to the epicenter