Types of Elastic Waves

• Transverse Waves
• Longitudinal Waves
 Transverse Waves

• Vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of the wave

 Longitudinal Waves

• Vibrations are in the same direction as the direction of

the wave.
Wave Properties
 Wave Properties

f=1/T; v=f.λ
 Types of Seismic Waves
• Primary waves (P-waves)
Body waves
• Secondary waves (S-waves)
• Rayleigh waves
Surface waves
• Love waves
Rayleigh Waves
Love Waves
 Speed of Seismic Body Waves

Vp > Vs

K = Bulk Modulus; μ = Shear Modulus; ρ = Density

Elastic Properties of Solids
 Poisson’s Ratio

σ =
 Practice Questions
1.
 Practice Questions
2.

The dashed wave is A and the solid wave is B. Compare A and B in

terms of frequency and wavelength if both waves travel at the same
speed. Draw a sketch showing the wavelengths of the two waves.
 Practice Questions
You feel a jolt from the ground, 3 seconds later you feel another jolt. A
3.
short time after the second jolt your house begins to shake violently. How
far away is the earthquake?

4. The figure shows waves whose right

and left sides (dashed boundary line)
have a different density and velocity.
Use the positions of the waves at
successive times to find the velocity on
either side of the boundary. Can you
estimate the wavelength of the initial
wave?