What is seismic waves
Answer (1)
Answer:Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through the Earth, generated by events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or even explosions. These waves carry energy and are crucial for understanding the Earth's interior and for locating the sources of seismic activity. Here's a more detailed explanation:What causes them?Seismic waves are produced when rocks suddenly move, such as during an earthquake along a fault line. Volcanic eruptions, man-made explosions, landslides, and even rushing rivers can also create these vibrations. How do they travel?Seismic waves travel through the Earth's interior (body waves) and along its surface (surface waves). Types of seismic waves:Body waves: These travel through the Earth's interior. There are two main types: P-waves (Primary waves): These are compressional waves, similar to sound waves, where the ground moves in the same direction as the wave travels. They are the fastest type of seismic wave. S-waves (Secondary waves): These are shear waves, where the ground moves perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. They are slower than P-waves. Surface waves: These travel along the Earth's surface. There are two main types: Love waves: These are horizontally polarized shear waves, causing a side-to-side motion. Rayleigh waves: These cause a rolling motion of the ground, similar to ocean waves. Why are they important?Understanding Earth's structure: By analyzing how seismic waves travel through the Earth, scientists can infer information about the different layers of the Earth's interior (density, composition, etc.). Locating earthquakes: The time it takes for seismic waves to reach different seismographs (instruments that detect ground motion) helps pinpoint the location of an earthquake's origin. Assessing earthquake hazards: Understanding how seismic waves behave helps in assessing the potential damage from future earthquakes.
