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The diagram shows a cross-section of the Earth - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 8 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 8
The diagram shows a cross-section of the Earth. An earthquake takes place at point X. Which type(s) of seismic waves would be detected at point Y? A P-Waves no ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The diagram shows a cross-section of the Earth - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 8 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which type(s) of seismic waves would be detected at point Y?
Answer
To determine the types of seismic waves that would be detected at point Y, it is essential to understand the properties of P-waves and S-waves:
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P-Waves (Primary Waves): These are compressional waves that can travel through both solids and liquids. Since point Y is located below the crust but still in the mantle, it can detect P-waves emitted from an earthquake occurring at point X, as they have the ability to pass through all layers of the Earth.
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S-Waves (Secondary Waves): These waves are shear waves that can only travel through solids. Given that point Y is also within a solid layer, it can only detect S-waves if it is within a solid medium. However, S-waves cannot travel through the Outer Core, leading to the conclusion that S-waves would not reach point Y if the earthquake originated at point X.
Based on this analysis, the correct response is:
- C: Yes for P-Waves (they will be detected) and Yes for S-Waves (they will also be detected) since point Y is in a solid part of the Earth.