Why do S waves reappear in the inner core?

Why do S waves reappear in the inner core?

This process of converting P-wave energy to P-wave and S-wave energy occurs at the boundary between the outer core and inner core. This means that P-waves that can travel through the liquid outer core are partially converted to S-waves that travel in the inner core.

Why does the S waves disappear in the outer core?

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.

Why do you think S waves Cannot penetrate or pass through the inner core even though they are solid?

S-waves move in an up and down motion perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. This produces a change in shape for the Earth materials they move through. Only solids resist a change in shape, so S-waves are only able to propagate through solids.

Do S waves travel through the inner 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.

How is outer core different from the inner core?

The inner core and the outer core are made up of similar stuff chemically (both are made mostly of iron, with a little nickel and some other chemical elements)–the difference between them is that the outer core is liquid and the inner core is solid.

Can S waves travel through inner core?

They can still propagate through the solid inner core: when a P wave strikes the boundary of molten and solid cores at an oblique angle, S waves will form and propagate in the solid medium.

Why do S waves not travel through liquid?

S-waves cannot travel through liquids. When they reach the surface they cause horizontal shaking. Liquids don’t have any shear strength and so a shear wave cannot propagate through a liquid. Think of a solid material, like a rock.

What happens when S waves reach the core?

Data from many earthquakes has shown that S-waves disappear when they encounter the liquid outer core. As seismic waves pass from one type of material into another, they are refracted (or bent slightly). As a result of these two observations, scientists have determined that all earthquakes have shadow zones.

Why is the outer core hotter than the inner core?

Answer 1: The inner core is indeed hotter than the outer core. However, the PRESSURE on the inner core is greater than the pressure on the outer core and the melting point of iron, the main constituent of the core, INCREASES as the pressure goes up.

Why is the inner core solid and the outer core liquid?

Earth´s inner core and outer core are both made of an iron-nickel alloy. As you go deeper in the Earth both temperature and pressure increases. Although the inner core is very hot, it is solid because it is experiencing very high pressure. The pressure in the outer core is not high enough to make it solid.

What happens when S-waves reach the core?

Why does S wave have no ability to travel in fluid?