A student comments, "The shadow zone is an area where waves cannot travel because it is a thick layer of liquid at the boundary of the mantle and the outer core." Evaluate this statement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement is partly correct, as waves cannot travel through liquid. However, the shadow zone specifically refers to the area where both P-waves and S-waves are affected, with P-waves refracting and S-waves being stopped. Additionally, the boundary being referred to is that between the mantle and the outer core, not the inner core. The statement also incorrectly implies that the shadow zone is limited to just the boundary layer, when it actually encompasses the entire outer core.

A Student Comments, "The Shadow Zone Is an Area Where