Question

Which of the following statement is/are correct about the earthquake waves?
(i) P-waves can travel through solid, liquid and gaseous materials.
(ii) S-waves can travel through solid and liquid materials.
(iii) The surface waves are the first to report on seismograph.

• A. Only (i)
• B. Only (ii) and (iii)
• C. Only (i) and (iii)
• D. All of the above (i), (ii) and (iii)

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only (i)

An earthquake generates seismic waves that penetrate the Earth as body waves (P & S) or travel as surface waves (Love and Rayleigh). Each wave has a characteristic speed and style of motion. P-wave:the primary body wave; the first seismic wave detected by seismographs; able to move through both liquid and solid rock. S Wave—secondary body waves that oscillate the ground perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. They travel about 1.7 times slower than P waves. Because liquids will not sustain shear stresses, S waves will not travel through liquids like water, molten rock, or the Earth’s outer core. S waves produce vertical and horizontal motion in the ground surface.