Question

Distinguish between P waves and S waves

Answer 1

The waves of energy that travel through the earth and cause earthquakes and related phenomena are seismic waves. There are two types of seismic waves :Compressional waves are also called P-Waves, (P stands for "primary") because they are always the first to arrive. They gave us the first jolt last Friday. Shear waves propagate more slowly through the Earth than compressional waves and arrive second, hence their name S- or secondary waves.

P waves

Can move through solids and liquids

S waves

Can only move through solids