What are the different seismic waves?
There are surface waves (transport energy along the Earth’s surface), and body waves (transport energy through the body of Earth). There are two types of body waves, transverse waves and longitudinal waves. • What are P-waves? Answer: P-waves are also known as longitudinal waves, and alternate between compression and expansion in the same direction that the wave is traveling. P-waves are also known as primary waves because they are the first waves to reach a seismograph after an earthquake. P-waves travel faster than the other seismic waves and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases (all three states of matter can be compressed and expanded). The velocity of P-waves will increase as it moves through denser material. Image from Wikipedia • What are S-waves? Answer: S-waves are also known as transverse waves or shear waves, and twist the rock back and forth. S-waves deform rock and travel perpendicular to the direction of travel. S-waves arrive second (they are secondary waves) to
