SOLAR SYSTEM

UNIVERSE

PLANETARY INTERIORS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What causes the waves that scientists have used to gain most of their understanding of the composition of Earth’s interior?
A
earthquakes
B
magnetic fields
C
meteor strikes
D
winds
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Seismic waves are vibrations that travel underground and occur as a result of the sudden movement of materials within Earth.

Detailed explanation-2: -The two main types of waves are body waves and surface waves. Body waves can travel through the Earth’s inner layers, but surface waves can only move along the surface of the planet like ripples on water. Earthquakes send out seismic energy as both body and surface waves.

Detailed explanation-3: -Scientists discovered that Earth’s outer core is liquid by observing seismic waves. P waves travel through solid and liquid, but S waves do not travel through liquid.

Detailed explanation-4: -The study of seismic waves is known as seismology. Seismologists use seismic waves to learn about earthquakes and also to learn about the Earth’s interior. One ingenious way scientists learn about Earth’s interior is by looking at earthquake waves.

Detailed explanation-5: -Earthquakes are usually caused when underground rock suddenly breaks and there is rapid motion along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake.

There is 1 question to complete.