GEOLOGY

EARTH SCIENCE

EARTHQUAKES

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Which wave can travel through solids only?
A
P-Primary
B
S-Secondary
C
Surface
D
None of the above
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Option B) Secondary Waves – These are also called S-waves and are transverse in nature. They are slower than P-waves. These waves can only travel through solids. They cannot travel through liquids and gases as they cannot support shear stress.

Detailed explanation-2: -Love waves and Secondary waves are the seismic waves that travel only through solids which are a surface wave and body wave, respectively. They are both transverse waves that need an elastic medium that holds their shape to propagate. Thus, they cannot travel through liquids like molten rock or water.

Detailed explanation-3: -S-waves can travel only through solids, because only solids have rigidity. S-waves cannot travel through liquids or gases.

Detailed explanation-4: -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-5: -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.

There is 1 question to complete.