Seismic Waves Quiz

Seismic Waves

• Seismic waves are vibrations generated by an earthquake, explosion, or similar energetic source and propagated within the Earth or along its surface.

Body Waves

• Body waves have two types: P-waves and S-waves.
• P-waves (Primary waves) can travel through solid and liquid and are faster than S-waves.
• S-waves (Secondary waves) can only travel through solid and are slower than P-waves.
• Body waves travel through the Earth's inner layers.

Surface Waves

• Surface waves are combinations of transverse and longitudinal waves.
• They can only travel through the surface layer (solid) and cause more damage than body waves.
• There are two types of Surface waves: Love waves and Rayleigh waves.

Love Waves

• Love waves have a horizontal motion and are the fastest surface wave.
• They are named after the British mathematician A.E.H. Love (Augustus Edward Hough Love).

Rayleigh Waves

• Rayleigh waves move the surface in a circular motion.
• They are named after the British physicist, Lord Rayleigh.

Reflection

• Reflection is the bouncing back of light or other waves when they encounter a surface that does not absorb them.
• The law of reflection states that when a ray of light is reflected off a surface, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

Types of Reflection

• Regular/Specular Reflection: Light or waves bounce off a smooth surface in a specific direction, creating a well-defined and organized image.
• Irregular/Diffused Reflection: Light or waves bounce off a rough or uneven surface, scattering in various directions, leading to a less organized and diffused image.

Mirrors

• Plane Mirrors: Flat and smooth reflective surfaces that reflect light, preserving the relative proportions and orientations of objects.
• Characteristics formed by Plane Mirrors:
  • Image: Virtual, appears to be located behind the mirror, even though there is no actual object or light source behind it.
  • Orientation: Lateral inversion, or left-right reversal, of the image in a mirror due to the way light reflects off the mirror surface.
  • Location and Size/Magnification: The size and distance of the object's reflection in the mirror appear the same as the size and distance of the actual object.

Curved Mirrors

• Concave/Converging Mirrors:
  • Shape: Curved inward, creating a surface that is reflective on the inner side.
  • Reflective Properties: Can converge incoming parallel light rays to a focal point, resulting in real or virtual images.
  • Uses: Can produce magnified images, used in applications like makeup mirrors, shaving mirrors, and some types of reflecting telescopes.
• Convex/Diverging Mirrors:
  • Shape: Curved outward, creating a reflective surface on the outer side.
  • Reflective Properties: Diverge incoming parallel light rays, making the reflected rays appear to be coming from a virtual focal point behind the mirror.
  • Uses: Provide a wider field of view, used in applications like side-view mirrors in cars, security mirrors, and in stores to eliminate blind spots.

This quiz covers the basics of seismic waves, including their definition and properties. It is designed to test understanding of seismic waves and their applications in science.