If the S- wave arrival time was 4 minutes later than the P- wave arrival time for a distant earthquake on the same seismogram, what was the distance from the seismic station to the epicentre?
A) 2000 km
B) 2450 km
C) 2150 km
D) 950 km

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference in arrival times between the P-wave and S-wave is proportional to the distance from the seismic station to the epicenter. The S-wave travels at a slower speed than the P-wave, so it takes longer to arrive at the seismic station. The difference in arrival times can be used to calculate the distance to the epicenter using the formula: distance = (arrival time of S-wave - arrival time of P-wave) * speed of S-wave. In this case, the difference in arrival times is 4 minutes, and the speed of the S-wave is 4.5 km/s. Therefore, the distance to the epicenter is 4 minutes * 4.5 km/s = 2450 km.

If the S- Wave Arrival Time Was 4 Minutes Later