Seismic Waves & Earth's Interior

Question 1

Which statement best explains why a seismograph on the opposite side of the Earth from an earthquake does NOT record any S‑waves?

Accepted Answer

S‑waves cannot travel through liquids, and the liquid outer core blocks them from reaching the far side of the Earth.

Answer

S‑waves are absorbed by the solid mantle, so they die out before they can get to the far side.

Answer

The Earth's magnetic field deflects S‑waves away from the far side of the planet.

Answer

S‑waves travel more slowly than P‑waves and arrive after the seismograph has been turned off.

Question 2

An earthquake shakes the island of Zalora. A seismometer in the town of Miron, which lies almost directly on the opposite side of the Earth from the quake, records only the fast P‑waves and no S‑waves. Which statement best explains why the S‑waves are missing?

Accepted Answer

S‑waves cannot travel through the liquid outer core, so they are stopped before they can reach the far side of the planet.

Answer

S‑waves travel more slowly than P‑waves, so they arrive after the seismometer has stopped recording.

Answer

The Earth’s magnetic field blocks S‑waves from traveling to the opposite side.

Answer

S‑waves are absorbed by the solid inner core, preventing them from reaching locations on the far side.

Question 3

An earthquake occurs beneath the island of Kiora. A seismometer in the city of Luzara, which lies on the exact opposite side of the Earth, records only the fast‑moving P‑waves and no S‑waves. Which explanation correctly describes why the S‑waves are missing?

Accepted Answer

The S‑waves are stopped because they cannot travel through the liquid outer core, so they never reach the far side.

Answer

The S‑waves lose energy over the long distance and become too weak to be detected.

Answer

The Earth's magnetic field deflects S‑waves away from the opposite side.

Answer

The earthquake only produced P‑waves; no S‑waves were generated.

Try three questions

Which statement best explains why a seismograph on the opposite side of the Earth from an earthquake does NOT record any S‑waves?

An earthquake shakes the island of Zalora. A seismometer in the town of Miron, which lies almost directly on the opposite side of the Earth from the quake, records only the fast P‑waves and no S‑waves. Which statement best explains why the S‑waves are missing?

An earthquake occurs beneath the island of Kiora. A seismometer in the city of Luzara, which lies on the exact opposite side of the Earth, records only the fast‑moving P‑waves and no S‑waves. Which explanation correctly describes why the S‑waves are missing?

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