ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)General Science (GS)Medium
A geophysicist is analyzing seismic waves to understand Earth's interior. Which type of seismic wave travels fastest through Earth's solid layers and is the first to arrive at a seismic station?
- ARayleigh waves
- BP-waves
- CLove waves
- DS-waves
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. P-waves
P-waves (Primary waves) are compressional waves that travel through solids, liquids, and gases. They are the fastest seismic waves and are therefore the first to be detected by seismographs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Rayleigh waves are surface waves that cause a rolling motion and are slower than body waves.
- C. Love waves are surface waves that cause horizontal shearing motion and are slower than body waves.
- D. S-waves (Secondary waves) are shear waves that travel only through solids and are slower than P-waves.
Seismic Waves
Waves of energy that travel through Earth's layers, resulting from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, magma movement, or large explosions.
- Body waves (P and S) travel through Earth's interior.
- Surface waves (Love and Rayleigh) travel along the surface.
- P-waves are fastest, S-waves are slower, surface waves are slowest.
Memory trick: Primary waves PUSH, Secondary waves SHAKE, Surface waves SWAY.