Which of the following statements is/are correct ?
- 1. Hypocenter is the point on the surface of the Earth, nearest to the focus.
- 2. Velocity of earthquake waves is higher in denser materials.
- 3. P waves move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
1 and 2
2 and 3
1 and 3
3 only
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2023
2. Seismic wave speeds depend on the elastic properties and density of the material. Wave speed is proportional to the square root of the ratio of an elastic modulus (like bulk modulus or shear modulus) to density. While density increases with depth, the elastic moduli generally increase faster, leading to an overall increase in wave speed with depth in the Earth’s mantle and core.
3. P waves are longitudinal waves that can travel through solids, liquids, and gases. S waves are transverse waves that can only travel through solids. Because P waves involve compression and expansion, they travel faster than S waves, which involve shearing motion.