EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -S waves can only travel through solids, and scientists have successfully mapped the earth’s interior by studying the routes of these waves. P waves or Primary waves are the first waves to hit the seismographs when an earthquake strikes.

Detailed explanation-2: -P waves can travel through liquid and solids and gases, while S waves only travel through solids. Scientists use this information to help them determine the structure of Earth.

Detailed explanation-3: -A P wave is a sound wave traveling through rock. In a P wave, the rock particles are alternately squished together and pulled apart (called compressions and dilatations), so P waves are also called compressional waves. These waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Detailed explanation-4: -S-waves are shear waves, which move particles perpendicular to their direction of propagation. They can propagate through solid rocks because these rocks have enough shear strength.

Detailed explanation-5: -Primary (P) and secondary (S) waves are two types of waves caused by earthquakes. They are defined based on when they arrive and are felt on the surface. P waves, or primary waves, arrive first while S waves, or secondary waves, arrive second. Both waves cause the ground to shake when an earthquake occurs.