Uses of Sound Waves: Earthquakes
Physics: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 6.3.7
Earthquakes
Seismic waves are waves which travel through the Earth. Earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves:
P-waves (primary)
- These are longitudinal, seismic waves.
- P-waves travel at different speeds through solids and liquids.
S-waves (secondary)
- These are transverse, seismic waves.
- S-waves cannot travel through liquids (only through solids).
Uses of seismic waves
- Seismic waves cannot travel through all parts of the earth because the earth is made up of different materials.
- Scientists have used this principle to work out the different materials that the earth is made up of.
- By detecting seismic waves from Earthquakes, scientists have worked out that the Earth has a solid core surrounded by a liquid outer core.
- A mantle of changing density surrounds the Earth’s core. This mantle causes the refraction of the seismic waves.
Test yourself on Uses of Sound Waves: Earthquakes
What do we call waves that travel through the Earth?
Which of these are types of seismic wave?
Which of these are true of P-waves?
Which of these are true of S-waves?