FlashDash ← Public Lessons
Science 11-1 (9. Earthquake Waves and Epicenter Mapping)
Q
What does a compressional pulse in a spring or slinky demonstrate?
A
P-wave movement.
Q
What does a transverse pulse in a spring or slinky demonstrate?
A
S-wave movement.
Q
How do particles move in a P wave?
A
Back and forth parallel to the direction the wave travels.
Q
How do particles move in an S wave?
A
Perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
Q
How can the distance to an earthquake be determined?
A
By comparing P-wave and S-wave arrival times using seismic information.
Q
What is the first step in locating an earthquake's epicenter?
A
Determine the distance from each seismic station to the epicenter.
Q
Why do you need the map scale?
A
To convert actual distances into distances on the map.
Q
What do you draw around each seismic station?
A
A circle with a radius equal to its calculated distance from the epicenter.
Q
How many seismic stations are typically needed to locate an epicenter?
A
Three.
Q
Where is the earthquake's epicenter located on the map?
A
Where the three circles intersect.
Q
What is the process of locating an earthquake using three seismic stations called?
A
Triangulation (more precisely, trilateration).