What are seismic waves?

What are seismic waves?

• A. Light waves in space
• B. Sound waves in air
• C. Vibrations that travel through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
• D. Electromagnetic waves

Answer: (C)

Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through the Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake. They originate when rocks rupture and rebalance, then radiate energy outward and through the planet’s layers and along its surface. These waves come in several forms: P-waves, which push and pull the material as they move; S-waves, which shear the material side to side and cannot travel through liquids; and surface waves, which travel along the Earth's exterior and often cause the most intense shaking near the surface. The different speeds and paths of these waves through various rocks and layers let scientists learn about Earth’s interior and locate where earthquakes begin. The other options describe waves in other contexts—light waves in space are electromagnetic, and sound waves in air are mechanical waves in a gas—where seismic waves are specifically the mechanical vibrations moving through the Earth itself.

Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through the Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake. They originate when rocks rupture and rebalance, then radiate energy outward and through the planet’s layers and along its surface. These waves come in several forms: P-waves, which push and pull the material as they move; S-waves, which shear the material side to side and cannot travel through liquids; and surface waves, which travel along the Earth's exterior and often cause the most intense shaking near the surface. The different speeds and paths of these waves through various rocks and layers let scientists learn about Earth’s interior and locate where earthquakes begin. The other options describe waves in other contexts—light waves in space are electromagnetic, and sound waves in air are mechanical waves in a gas—where seismic waves are specifically the mechanical vibrations moving through the Earth itself.