What happens to P waves and S waves when they reach the boundary between the mantle and the outer core?

What happens to P waves and S waves when they reach the boundary between the mantle and the outer core?

The waves are refracted as they travel through the Earth due to a change in density of the medium. This causes the waves to travel in curved paths. When the waves cross the boundary between two different layers, there is a sudden change in direction due to refraction.

What happens when the P waves and the S waves reach the earth’s core?

2. P-waves speed up again through the inner core and S-waves also travel through it, suggesting that the inner core is composed of solid iron and nickel. 3. Figure 19.10: The increase of temperature with depth in the earth is indicated by a curve called the geotherm.

How do P waves and S waves move and what material do they travel through?

P waves can travel through solids, liquids, and even gases. S waves shake the ground in a shearing, or crosswise, motion that is perpendicular to the direction of travel. These are the shake waves that move the ground up and down or from side to side.

What is the relationship between the P waves and the S waves and their travel times?

As the P and S waves travel out from an earthquake the P waves get progressively farther ahead of the S waves. Therefore, the farther a seismic recording station is from the earthquake epicenter the greater will be the difference in time of arrival between the P and S wave.

What happened to the P waves when they are approaching?

When an earthquake occurs the seismic waves (P and S waves) spread out in all directions through the Earth’s interior. Seismic waves move more slowly through a liquid than a solid. Molten areas within the Earth slow down P waves and stop S waves because their shearing motion cannot be transmitted through a liquid.

On which layer did both P and S waves passed through?

Table 1 Properties of P-waves and S-waves P-waves pass through both mantle and core, but are slowed and refracted at the mantle / core boundary at a depth of 2900 km. S-waves passing from the mantle to the core are absorbed because shear waves cannot be transmitted through liquids.

How are P and S waves used to find the epicenter?

Scientists use triangulation to find the epicenter of an earthquake. When seismic data is collected from at least three different locations, it can be used to determine the epicenter by where it intersects. Each seismograph records the times when the first (P waves) and second (S waves) seismic waves arrive.

How do P and S waves differ from each other?

Because of their wave movement, P waves travel through any kind of material, whether it is a solid, liquid or gas. On the other hand, S waves only move through solids and are stopped by liquids and gases.

What happens to the difference in arrival times between P waves and S waves as the distance from the earthquake increases?

The different waves each travel at different speeds and therefore arrive at a seismic station at different times. P waves travel the fastest, so they arrive first. With increasing distance from the earthquake the time difference between the arrival of the P waves and the arrival of the S waves increases.

What happens to the P waves when they are approaching to the molten part of the Earth’s interior?

Molten areas within the Earth slow down P waves and stop S waves because their shearing motion cannot be transmitted through a liquid. Partially molten areas may slow down the P waves and attenuate or weaken S waves.

What would S waves do when they enter the asthenosphere?

The velocity of s waves going through the asthenosphere decreases, which tells us that peridotite contains a few percent partial melt, but not enough to stop s waves.