Earthquakes are motions of the earth's crust. Essentially, they are big sound waves that travel through the earth. There are two types of waves. The first type is called a longitudinal or P wave, where the earth compresses in the same direction as the wave travels. The second type is called a transverse, or S wave, where the compression in the earth is perpendicular to the direction of the wave. P waves travel roughly twice as fast as S waves.
A seismograph is a device for measuring these waves. By measuring the time between the arrival of each wave, we can calculate the distance to an earthquake. A seismograph measures a P wave and then an S wave 30 seconds later. If the P waves travel at 6000 m/s, how far away was the earthquakein kilometers?
Earthquakes are motions of the earth's crust. Essentially, they are big sound waves that travel through the earth. There are two types of waves. The first type is called a longitudinal or P wave, where the earth compresses in the same direction as the wave travels. The second type is called a transverse, or S wave, where the compression in the earth is perpendicular to the direction of the wave. P waves travel roughly twice as fast as S waves.
A seismograph is a device for measuring these waves. By measuring the time between the arrival of each wave, we can calculate the distance to an earthquake. A seismograph measures a P wave and then an S wave 30 seconds later. If the P waves travel at 6000 m/s, how far away was the earthquakein kilometers?
The time difference between the arrival of the two waves=30 sec
Speed of P-wave=6000m/s
Then the required distance is given by
30 x 6000=180000m=180km
The time difference between the arrival of the two waves=30 sec
Speed of P-wave=6000m/s
Then the required distance is given by
30 x 6000=180000m=180km
