Why do earthquakes send different kinds of waves through Earth?
Quick Answer
Earthquakes release energy in waves that move through rock in different ways, including compressional and shear waves. Those differences arise because Earth’s materials respond differently to pressure and sideways motion.
The Full Story
When rocks suddenly slip along a fault, they release stored elastic energy. That energy travels as seismic waves, mainly P-waves and S-waves, plus surface waves. P-waves compress and expand material and can move through solids and liquids, while S-waves shear side to side and cannot travel through liquids. This is one reason scientists know Earth has a liquid outer core. The study of seismic waves is called seismology and has been essential for mapping Earth’s interior.
Key Facts
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