What Are Secondary Seismic Waves

A type of seismic body wave in which rock particles vibrate at right angles to the direction of wave travel. Secondary waves cause the rocks they pass through to change in shape. … Also called shear wave S wave See Note at earthquake.

What's the difference between primary and secondary waves?

The P-wave (primary or pressure wave) is a pulse of energy that travels quickly through the earth and through liquids. … The S-wave (secondary or shear wave) follows more slowly, with a swaying, rolling motion that shakes the ground back and forth perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

What is an example of a secondary wave?

The definition of an S wave, or secondary wave, is a wave motion in a solid medium where the medium moves perpendicular to the direction of the travel of the wave. An example of an S wave is when pieces of rock in an earthquake vibrate at right angles to the direction of the seismic wave.

Alexander Ross

Alexander Ross

Gaming, Esports & Interactive Media Writer

Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.

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