Spring Lake HS

Waves day 3
12/16/2009

Find the Earthquake Activity

Given :

P wave speed: 10km/sec

S wave speed: 3km/sec

Richter Scale: Measure of an earthquakes intensity given as a dimensionless number. It is based on a

base 10 logarithmic scale.
1 x 0= N
x = l o 1 0g N

Tutorial on Seismographs:
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/locating.html

Types of Seismic waves animation: Seismic Waves websites: ff

http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/waves.html
Questions: (Use the given information and your notes to answer.)

1. The frequency of a P-wave is approximentlly 12 Hz what is its wavelength?

2. The S-wave has the same wavelength as the P-wave, what must its frequency be?

3. The following siesmograph was taken at a station in Detroit. Us this infomation to determine the
distance the epicenter is from Detroit.

4. A second station in Jacksonville is only able to herald the large surface wave pulse and measures it
at an intensity of . 0 ×3 52 W 2 , the
1 same
0 earthquake measured 1 0 mW 2 . in
2 Detroit. Use this to
m

determine the distance of the quake from Jacksonville.

5. A third station in Spokane WA finds the time between the S-wave and P-wave arrival to be 5
minutes and 45 seconds apart. Find the distance of this quake from this station.

6. Use all the information you obtained to find the epicenter of the quake. In addittion use the map
provided and a compass.