Which type of wave can penetrate the outer and inner core?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: P-waves (Primary waves)
Explanation
Seismic waves generated by earthquakes travel through the Earth and provide crucial insights into its internal structure. There are two main types of body waves: P-waves (Primary waves) and S-waves (Secondary waves). These waves behave differently depending on the materials they encounter within the Earth.
P-waves, or compressional waves, are the fastest seismic waves and are the first to be detected by seismographs after an earthquake. They travel through the Earth by compressing and expanding the material in the direction the wave is moving. This motion allows them to propagate through both solid and liquid layers of the Earth.
In contrast, S-waves, or shear waves, move material perpendicular to the wave direction and can only travel through solids. They are unable to pass through liquids, such as the Earth’s outer core, which is why S-waves are not observed on the opposite side of the Earth from an earthquake’s epicenter.
The Earth is made up of the crust, mantle, outer core (liquid), and inner core (solid). When P-waves reach the outer core, they slow down and change direction due to the difference in density and phase (solid to liquid). However, they continue to travel through the liquid outer core. Upon reaching the solid inner core, P-waves speed up again and can continue traveling through it. This ability to pass through both liquid and solid layers makes P-waves unique among seismic waves.
By analyzing the travel paths and velocities of P-waves, scientists can deduce the properties of Earth’s inner layers, including the fact that the outer core is liquid and the inner core is solid. The behavior of these waves is essential in the study of seismology and our understanding of Earth’s internal structure.
