Seismic waves move faster through which of the following media?
a.) water
b.) steel
c.) oxygen
d.) oil
Please answer my study guide is due Monday and the teacher hasn't gone over this I looked through my notes and everything. It would really help if you answer...Please answer my other ones!
A. Water
I don't believe water is correct. Here is a site that tells you that the speed of sound is greater in water than in air and greater in iron than in water. Steel is mostly iron.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound
thankyou
those are the only choices so I am going with water
To determine which medium seismic waves move faster through, we can consider the properties of each medium.
Seismic waves consist of several types, including primary (P) waves and secondary (S) waves. P waves are compressional waves that travel through solids, liquids, and gases, while S waves are shear waves that only propagate through solids.
When comparing the given options, we can eliminate gases (such as oxygen) since S waves cannot pass through them. So, let's focus on water, steel, and oil, which are liquids or solids.
The speed of seismic waves depends on the density and rigidity of the medium. Generally, waves travel faster in denser and stiffer materials.
In this case, comparing the densities of water, steel, and oil, we find that steel is the densest. Therefore, seismic waves are likely to move faster through steel compared to water and oil.
Hence, the correct answer is b.) steel.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!