a ____ wave is an elastic rebound wave that travels outward in all directions from the point of an earthquake?
I'm debating between, seismic, body and surface which one is correct? Thanks
seismic makes sense. Body and surface are seismic, but each does not travel in "all directions".
The correct answer is a seismic wave. Seismic waves are waves of energy that are generated by earthquakes and travel through the Earth's interior. These waves can be classified into two main types: body waves and surface waves.
Body waves are generated by the initial release of energy from the earthquake's focus, which is the point where the earthquake originates. There are two types of body waves: primary waves (P-waves) and secondary waves (S-waves). P-waves are the fastest seismic waves and they travel through solids, liquids, and gases. S-waves, on the other hand, are slower than P-waves and can only travel through solids.
Surface waves, as the name suggests, travel along the surface of the Earth. They are generated when body waves reach the Earth's surface. Surface waves are responsible for the most damage during an earthquake because they produce strong shaking and can cause significant ground displacement.
In the context of your question, seismic waves refer to both body waves and surface waves. However, since seismic waves travel in all directions from the point of an earthquake, it is more specific to use the term "seismic wave" instead of just referring to body waves or surface waves individually.