Problem 20.50 Earthquakes are essentially sound waves?called seismic waves?trave

Question

Problem 20.50 Earthquakes are essentially sound waves?called seismic waves?traveling through the earth. Because the earth is solid, it can support both longitudinal and transverse seismic waves. The speed of longitudinal waves, called P waves, is 8500 m/s . Transverse waves, called S waves, travel at a slower 4700 m/s . A seismograph records the two waves from a distant earthquake. Part A If the S wave arrives 2.3 min after the P wave, how far away was the earthquake? You can assume that the waves travel in straight lines, although actual seismic waves follow more complex routes. Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Explanation / Answer

let the distance of earthquake point = d

speed of P waves = Vp = 8500 m/s

speed of S waves = Vs = 4700 m/s

Time taken by P waves = tp = d/8500

Time taken by S waves = ts = d/4700

given that

ts = tp + 2.3 x 60

(d/4700) = (d/8500) + 138

d = 1450186 m

d = 1450.186 km

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