Answer :
Answer:
c. seismic waves
Seismic waves are produced by an earthquake. They are the waves of energy that travel through the Earth's layers as a result of the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, leading to the shaking and displacement felt during an earthquake.
Explanation:
When an earthquake occurs, it results from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust. This release of energy generates seismic waves, which are the waves of energy that travel through the Earth's layers. These waves are responsible for the shaking and vibrations experienced during an earthquake. Here's a more detailed explanation:
1. Origin of Seismic Waves:
- Stress Accumulation: Over time, stress builds up in the Earth's crust due to tectonic forces.
- Fault Rupture: When the stress exceeds the strength of rocks, it causes a rupture along a fault line, releasing energy.
2. Types of Seismic Waves:
- Body Waves: These travel through the Earth's interior and include:
- P-waves (Primary waves): These compressional waves travel fastest and are the first to be detected by seismographs. They can move through both solid and liquid layers of the Earth.
- S-waves (Secondary waves): These shear waves move slower than P-waves and can only travel through solid materials.
- Surface Waves: These travel along the Earth's surface and generally cause more damage. They include:
- Love waves: These cause horizontal shearing of the ground.
- Rayleigh waves: These create a rolling motion, similar to ocean waves.
3. Detection and Measurement:
- Seismographs: Instruments that detect and record seismic waves.
- Seismograms: The records produced by seismographs, show the arrival times and amplitude of seismic waves.
4. Impact of Seismic Waves:
- Ground Shaking: The shaking felt during an earthquake is primarily due to surface waves.
- Damage: Buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes can be significantly damaged or altered by the intense shaking caused by seismic waves.
In summary, seismic waves are the direct products of the energy released during an earthquake, and they propagate through the Earth, causing the ground movements associated with earthquakes.
c) Seismic waves are produced by an earthquake.
These waves travel through the Earth's interior and along its surface, causing the ground to shake and potentially leading to significant damage.
When an earthquake occurs, different types of seismic waves are generated:
- Primary Waves (P-waves): These are compressional waves that move back and forth in the direction the wave is traveling. They travel the fastest and are the first to be detected by seismographs.
- Secondary Waves (S-waves): These are shear waves that move perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, causing a side-to-side motion. They travel slower than P-waves and arrive after them.
- Surface Waves: These waves travel along the Earth's surface and are slower than P-waves and S-waves but often cause the most damage due to their larger amplitudes and longer durations.
