Seismic Waves and Earthquakes Quiz

What year did the great San Francisco earthquake occur?

• 1912

• 1909

• 1915

• 1906

What is the primary tool used by seismologists to measure seismic waves?

• Richter Scale

• Seismometer

• Barometer

• Seismograph

Which type of seismic wave is known as the fastest?

• Surface waves

• S waves

• Rayleigh waves

• P waves

What is a key characteristic of P waves?

• They cause the most damage

• They are compressional and can travel through both rock and liquid

• They are the slowest waves

• They can only travel through solids

Which type of wave cannot travel through liquids?

• Love waves

• P waves

• S waves

• Surface waves

What is the primary movement pattern of S waves?

• Side to side

• Up and down

• Compressional

• Circular

Which waves are known to cause the most damage to buildings?

• Surface waves

• Tsunami waves

• P waves

• S waves

What are the two types of surface waves?

• Primary waves and Secondary waves

• P waves and S waves

• Seismic waves and Tsunami waves

• Love waves and Rayleigh waves

Which surface wave is considered the most destructive?

• S waves

• Love waves

• Rayleigh waves

• P waves

What is the main reason surface waves are so destructive?

• They are the first to arrive

• They occur deep underground

• They move the ground in complex patterns

• They travel the fastest