Author Question: Explain why an earthquake east of Rockies may produce damage over a larger area than one of similar ... (Read 46 times)

washai · **on:** Jul 14, 2018

Explain why an earthquake east of Rockies may produce damage over a larger area than one of similar magnitude in California.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

List the major differences between P, S, and surface waves.

What will be an ideal response?

yasmina · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 14, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The underlying bedrock in the central and eastern United States is older and more rigid, allowing seismic waves to travel greater distances with less loss of strength than in the western United States.

Answer to Question 2

Both P waves and S waves are body waves that are transmitted through the Earth's interior. P waves are compression waves; they arrive first because they travel fastest, and their motion is transmitted in a Slinky-like manner. P waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases. S waves arrive second. Their motion is transmitted in a shaking motion like a rope that has been shaken at one end, and the rope kink then travels to the other end in an S form. S waves can travel only through solids. Surface waves occur along the surface once the S waves have reached the surface. Consequently, surface waves arrive last. They are of two forms: one that moves generally up and down and one that moves side to side.