easy · LSAT Reading Comprehension
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth. When an earthquake occurs, it releases energy in the form of seismic waves that radiate outward from the focus. There are two primary types of seismic waves: body waves and surface waves. Body waves travel through the interior of the Earth and are further divided into P-waves and S-waves. P-waves, or primary waves, are the fastest and travel through both solids and liquids. S-waves, or secondary waves, are slower and can only move through solid rock. Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface and are responsible for most of the damage during an earthquake because they have a larger amplitude and lower frequency than body waves. By analyzing the arrival times of different waves at seismographs around the world, seismologists can pinpoint the earthquake's epicenter and determine its magnitude.
Based on the passage, what is a key difference between P-waves and S-waves?
- P-waves can propagate through liquid as well as solid, whereas S-waves are confined to solids.
- S-waves outpace the primary P-waves as both kinds move through the dense interior of the Earth.
- Surface-traveling P-waves, not the body waves, account for the bulk of an earthquake's destruction.
- Only S-waves, and never the faster P-waves, arise at the earthquake's underground point of origin.
- P-waves alone, unlike the surface waves, can be detected by seismographs stationed worldwide.
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