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Investigation 3: Seismic Waves
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Seismologists study seismic waves not only to locate earthquake hypocenters, but also to map
the Earth’s interior. Understanding how seismic waves are affected by the material they pass
through also helps scientists predict how much damage earthquakes might cause in different
areas.
Folder 1: Seismic Waves
Observations
Date of Observations:
What are seismic waves?
What are body waves?
What are surface waves?
What are S waves?
Materials S waves can travel through:
What are P waves?
Materials P waves can travel through:
What are rocks composed of?
What are minerals composed of?
What is elasticity?
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Folder 1: Seismic Waves
Notes
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Folder 1: Seismic Waves
Interpretations
In the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, which areas experienced seismic waves of higher
amplitude?
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
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Folder 2: Locating Earthquakes
Observations
Date of Observations:
How many seismograph stations are there
worldwide – tens, hundreds, thousands, or tens
of thousands?
Are the stations randomly distributed? If not,
what patterns do you see?
What is lag time?
Approximate distance per minute of lag time
between the arrival of S and P waves:
Distance from the Chilean earthquake
epicenter to London, England (to the nearest
100 km):
Complete the table with information from the three seismic stations. Then create a
graph to display the data. Be sure to add x and y scales and label each point (the three
stations) on your graph.
Station
Lag Time (minutes)
Distance (km)
Paso Flores, Argentina
Llaves, New Mexico
Tiksi, Russia
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Folder 2: Locating Earthquakes
Notes
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Folder 2: Locating Earthquakes
Interpretations
Using your graph, what would the lag time be between P and S waves at a station in London,
England?
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
What could influence the lag time between the arrival of S and P waves, other than distance from
the epicenter?
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
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Folder 3: Exploring Earth’s Interior
Observations
Mohorovicic reasoned that the increase in speed of seismic waves at a depth of about
50 km meant that the Earth’s upper mantle is denser than the crust.
Using the same line of reasoning, answer the following questions:
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Folder 3: Exploring Earth’s Interior
Interpretations
How hard or dense do you think the asthenosphere is compared with the layers above and below
it?
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
Is the lower mantle harder or softer than the upper mantle?
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
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Folder 3: Exploring Earth’s Interior
Interpretations, cont’d
Is the outer core liquid or solid?
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
Is the inner core liquid or solid?
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
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Folder 4: Threat Reduction
Notes on Earthquake Tour
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Investigation Summary
Why are seismic waves able to move through rock?
What is the most destructive type of seismic wave?
How are earthquakes located?
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Investigation Summary
How do you think temperature changes from the surface to the center of the Earth?
Are people in some earthquake prone areas less safe than in others? Explain.
What could explain the overlapping distributions of earthquakes and volcanoes?
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