How are P waves different from S waves?(1 point)
Responses
P waves travel slowly, and S waves travel quickly.
P waves travel slowly, and S waves travel quickly.
P waves cause damage, and S waves do not cause damage.
P waves cause damage, and S waves do not cause damage.
P waves push and pull in the same direction as the wave, and S waves move up and down.
P waves push and pull in the same direction as the wave, and S waves move up and down.
P waves move under Earth’s surface, and S waves move along Earth’s surface.
P waves move under Earth's surface, and S waves move along Earth's surface.
P waves move under Earth’s surface, and S waves move along Earth’s surface.
The correct answer is:
P waves push and pull in the same direction as the wave, and S waves move up and down.
To understand this difference, we need to look at the characteristics of each type of wave during an earthquake.
P waves, also known as primary waves or compressional waves, are the first waves to be recorded and detected during an earthquake. They originate from the focus, or the point of the earthquake's origin, and move through the Earth's interior. These waves push and pull rocks in the same direction as the wave is moving, which means they cause particles to compress and expand parallel to the direction of wave motion. P waves travel faster than other seismic waves and can move through solid and liquid materials, which allows them to travel through both the Earth's crust and mantle.
On the other hand, S waves, also known as secondary waves or shear waves, arrive after P waves and cannot travel through liquid materials like the Earth's core. S waves move particles in a perpendicular direction relative to the wave's motion, causing the rocks to move up and down or side to side. Unlike P waves, S waves cannot travel through the Earth's outer core, as it is made of molten material. S waves are slower than P waves and arrive at the seismic stations later than the P waves.
So, in summary, the main difference between P waves and S waves is their motion. P waves cause particles to move back and forth in the same direction as the wave, while S waves move rocks up and down or side to side perpendicular to the wave's motion.