Referring to the seismogram, which waves are the fastest?
A s waves
b surface waves
c p waves
d seismic waves
C p waves are the fastest seismic waves.
To determine which waves are the fastest on a seismogram, you should understand the different types of seismic waves. Seismic waves are waves of energy that are generated by earthquakes or other seismic events and travel through the Earth.
There are three main types of seismic waves:
1. P-waves (Primary waves): These waves are the fastest and arrive at a seismic station first. They are compressional waves that travel through solid rock, liquid, or gas. P-waves push and pull particles in the direction of wave propagation, compressing and expanding the material as they pass through it.
2. S-waves (Secondary waves): S-waves are slower than P-waves and arrive at the seismic station after P-waves. Unlike P-waves, S-waves can only travel through solid materials. S-waves cause particles to move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, creating a shearing motion that shakes the ground from side to side.
3. Surface waves: These waves are slower than both P-waves and S-waves and travel along the Earth's surface. There are two types of surface waves: Love waves and Rayleigh waves. Love waves move the ground from side to side and are generally slower than Rayleigh waves, which have a rolling motion similar to ocean waves.
Now, referring back to your question, you asked which waves are the fastest on a seismogram. Based on the information provided, we can conclude that the correct answer is:
c) P-waves (also known as primary waves) are the fastest among the given options.
To identify the specific waves on a seismogram, P-waves are represented as the first arrival with small amplitudes and relatively higher frequencies compared to other waves. S-waves typically show up after P-waves, and surface waves have the longest period and lower frequencies.
Keep in mind that the actual seismogram may vary depending on the characteristics of the earthquake and the location of the seismograph station.