How do shock waves produced by an earthquake travel?
Compressional Waves There are three types of seismic waves creating by earthquakes. The first wave is a compressional wave commonly referred to as a P-wave. A P-wave is the fastest moving seismic wave, traveling at 6.0 km/s. P-waves travel out in all directions from the focus of the earthquake moving back and forth in the same direction as the wave is traveling. For example, imagine that you are holding a Slinky with one end in each hand. If you were to create a P-wave with the Slinky, you would move your hands back and forth towards and away from each other, stretching and compressing the Slinky as you move. P-waves cause the molecules in the rocks to behave in the same fashion; the particles get compressed then rebound as the wave moves through the crust. P-waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases. Shear Waves Shear waves, also known as S-waves, move perpendicular to the direction of travel. They travel out in all directions from the focus of the earthquake. Imagine holdin
