COMPARING THE TWO BODY WAVES Objective: Compare and contrast P waves and and behavior S waves in terms of their speed Direction: Part A. Observe the shadow zones of P-wave and S-wave as they make their way through the Earth’s layers. In the appropriate column; place a checkmark that corresponds to your answer. WAVE 8 WAVE Types of Body Waves Fast: Travels moving through solids only Travels through solids and liquids Moves side to side Pushes and pulls P WAVE S – WAVE”
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Venn Diagram: P waves vs. S waves
P Waves (Primary Waves)
- First to arrive during an earthquake
- Travel faster than S waves
- Can move through solids, liquids, and gases
- Compressional waves (push-pull motion)
- Cause less ground movement
- Also called longitudinal waves
Similarities
- Both are seismic body waves
- Both originate from the earthquake focus
- Travel through Earth’s interior
- Used to study Earth’s internal structure
- Detected by seismographs
- Produced by earthquakes
S Waves (Secondary Waves)
- Arrive after P waves
- Travel slower than P waves
- Move only through solids
- Transverse waves (side-to-side motion)
- Cause more ground shaking than P waves
- Also called shear waves
Textbook-Style Explanation (300 words)
When an earthquake occurs, it releases energy in the form of seismic waves. These waves travel through the Earth and are categorized into body waves and surface waves. Among the body waves, the two main types are Primary (P) waves and Secondary (S) waves. These waves are crucial for understanding the internal structure of the Earth and the behavior of earthquakes.
P waves, or primary waves, are the fastest type of seismic waves and therefore arrive first at a seismic station. They are compressional waves, meaning they move in a push-pull motion, compressing and expanding the material they pass through. One of their key characteristics is that they can travel through all states of matter—solids, liquids, and gases. This property allows P waves to pass through the Earth’s core, helping scientists study its composition.
On the other hand, S waves, or secondary waves, arrive after the P waves because they travel more slowly. They are transverse waves, moving the ground side to side or up and down, perpendicular to the direction of travel. S waves can only move through solids, which is why they do not pass through the Earth’s liquid outer core.
Despite these differences, both P and S waves are body waves, meaning they travel through the interior of the Earth. They both originate from the earthquake’s focus and are recorded by seismographs, aiding scientists in earthquake detection and analysis. Their differences in speed and material penetration also help determine the structure and composition of Earth’s internal layers.
