S-waves are unable to pass through the Earth's outer core, which indicates that the outer core is
A)a void space within the Earth.
B)compositionally different from the mantle.
C)composed of an ultra-dense solid.
D)liquid.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

S-waves are transverse waves that can only propagate through solid materials, and they cannot pass through liquids. Therefore, the fact that S-waves are unable to pass through the Earth's outer core indicates that the outer core is composed of a liquid material.

S-Waves Are Unable to Pass Through the Earth's Outer Core