1. Earthquake Unit: Lesson 2
Recording Earth Quakes and Seismic Waves

2. Vocabulary
Seismic Wave: An elastic wave generated by an impulse such as an earthquake or an explosion. Seismic waves may travel either along or near the earth’s surface or through the earth’s interior.
Seismograph: detects and records seismic waves. Records the vertical and horizontal motions of the earth, by tracing wave shaped lines on paper or by translating the motion into electronic signals

3. Primary Waves or P-waves
Fastest moving waves
First to be recorded by a seismograph
P waves can travel through solids and liquids
More rigid the material the faster the P waves travel
Cause rock particles to move together and apart alone the direction of the waves

4. Secondary waves or S-waves
Second waves to be recorded
Travel only through solid material
Cause rock particles to move at right angles to the directions in which the waves are traveling
Cannot be detected on the side of the earth that is opposite the earthquakes’ epicenter. Why?
(Because they cannot travel through the liquid part of the earths outer core)

5. Long waves or L-waves Also called surface waves
When p waves and s waves reach the earth’s surface their energy is converted into this type of wave
Slowest moving waves
Last to be recorded on a seismograph
Travel slowly over the earth’s surface I a movement similar to that of ocean waves
Cause the surface of the earth to rise and fall particularly destructive when traveling through loose earth

6. Locating an Earthquake
To find the epicenter of an earthquake scientist analyze the difference between the arrival times of the P waves and the S waves
Scientist plot the difference in arrival time of the S and P waves – called lag time
Must plot the data from at least three different seismograph stations
Compare the results and epicenter of the earthquake may now be located.

8. Richter Scale Measures the magnitude of the earthquake
Magnitude is the measure of the energy released by an earthquake.
Largest earthquake so far had a magnitude of 9.6
Major earthquakes have a magnitude of 7 or above
Moderate earthquakes have a magnitude of between 6 or 7
Minor earthquakes have a magnitude of between 2.5 and 6
Micro quakes have a magnitude of less that 2.5 and are usually not felt by people

9. Mercalli scale Expresses the intensity of an earthquake
The amount of damage it causes
Measured in roman numerals from I to XII
Ex. II-low intensity. Felt by only a few persons at rest. Delicately suspended objects may swing.
Intensity X- some well built wooden structures destroyed. Most masonry and frame structures destroyed-foundations badly cracked
Landslides, shifted sand and mud, water splashed over banks
Intensity XII- total destruction

10. Haiti Earthquake

11. Earthquake in China

12. Japan Earthquake

13. Indonesia Earthquake

14. Study or Quiz questions
What instrument is used to record seismic waves?
Explain the three types of seismic waves.
How is the epicenter of an earthquake located?
How do scientist measure the magnitude of an earthquake?
Why do P waves travel faster through the lithosphere that through the asthenoshpere?