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SCIENCE
Quarter 2 – Module 5:
SEISMIC WAVES AND EARTH’S
INTERIOR

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Science – Grade 8
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 – Module 5: Seismic Waves and Earth’s Interior
First Edition, 2020

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE MODULE

WRITER: MEL JOHN P. GUAN

EDITOR: APRIL R. GERSALIA

REVIEWERS: APRIL R. GERSALIA

ERICK F. GAYANES

LAYOUT ARTISTS: ROMAN B. JEBULAN

SEVERINO R. CANTUBA, JR.
KEVIN H. OJOS
DAVE B. FORTES
JERIEL G. MARTIREZ

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 Most Essential Learning Competency

Explain how earthquake waves provide information about

the interior of the earth.

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 SEISMIC WAVES AND EARTH’S
INTERIOR

Introduction

In the previous modules, you learned how

earthquake is generated when a fault moves. You also
performed activities that help you understand the
difference between focus and epicenter, intensity and
magnitude, and active and inactive faults. Earth is an
amazing planet indeed, but have you ever wondered what
lies inside the earth? What is our planet made of?
In this module, we will explore seismic waves and
learn how scientists study the earth’s interior based from
the movement of these waves.

Most Essential Learning

Competency & Objectives

MELC: Explain how earthquake waves provide information about the interior
of the earth.

Objectives:
✓ Define seismic waves.
✓ Explain how Earthquake waves are propagated.

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 Pre-Test

Before we start our lesson, try to answer these

five (5) questions below.

Directions: Read the questions carefully and choose the letter

of the correct answer.

1. Where do seismic waves originated?

a. ocean floor c. focus

b. epicenter. d. fault line

2. What is created during an earthquake that travels from the focus to the interior
and surface of the earth?

a. Electromagnetic waves c. ocean waves

b. Seismic waves d. radio waves

3. Which seismic waves travel on the surface of the earth and can cause
damage to people and environment?
a. P-waves. c. Surface waves
b. S-waves. d. z-waves.

4. How do seismic wave travels from the focus of an earthquake?

a. In a straight line moving on the surface of the earth.
b. It radiates in a ripple like movement within the interior of the earth.
c. It emanates spherically from the focus moving inside and on the
surface of the earth.
d. Seismic waves only travel in the epicenter of the earthquake.

5. What causes the change in the speed of seismic waves as it travels through
the earth?
a. Seismic waves are colliding
b. Waves are traveling to materials of different properties.
c. S waves overtake P waves
d. Waves are passing through materials of same density.

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 Learning Activities

ELICIT
Let’s start our lesson by revisiting
what you have learned about earthquake
from the previous modules, and then, answer
the questions that follows.

Study the given picture below:

Figure 1. Fault Diagram

From the given diagram answer the following questions:

1. What does label A represents? ________________
2. What does label B represents? ________________
3. Intensity measures the strength of an earthquake in terms of its effect on
people, structures and environment. Suppose in the diagram, two houses are
separated by 50 km. Will both houses experience same intensity during an
earthquake? Why and why not?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
________________________________

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 The movement of the fault generates earthquake, the
shaking starts from the focus and reach the earth’s surface
as the epicenter.

EN G AG E
Did you know that there is an average of 100 to 150
Earthquakes that is felt in the Philippines a year, and one
of the strongest tremor happened last October 15, 2013.
Are you curious of what happened that day? Then
read the news article and answer the questions that follow.

7.2 quake hits Bohol-PHIVOLCS

By: Frances Mangosing, Nestor P. Burgos Jr. –October 15, 2013 8:39 AM

CEBU CITY, Philippines —

A tectonic 7.2 magnitude quake was recorded near
Bohol Tuesday morning with aftershocks expected,
authorities said.

Initial reports said that four people had died. The quake was recorded from two to five
kilometers southeast of Carmen town at 8:12 a.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology and the United States Geological Service reported.

PHIVOLCS said the earthquake had a depth of 33 kilometers. The tremor lasted for a minute
and triggered a blackout. Several aftershocks were felt.

According to initial reports, some houses and buildings were damaged.

The earthquake was felt in parts of Visayas and Mindanao:

• Intensity VI – Hinigaran, Negros Occidental
• Intensity V- Iloilo, City
• Intensity IV – Masbate City
• Intensity III – Davao City
•
Damages were also expected from the quake, PHIVOLCS said.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net

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 ✓ You can also watch the news just visit this link: https://youtu.be/1qyYYO3McbE.com

Now, I’d like you to consider and analyze the

news you have read. Try to answer these questions.

1. What are the affected places based on the news?

______________________________________________________

2. According to the news, the epicenter of the Earthquake was in the

Municipality of Carmen in Bohol but why is it that the tremor was also felt in
Davao City, Masbate City and Iloilo City which are far from Bohol?
______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

3. How do earthquakes affect other places aside from the epicenter?

______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

The movement in the fault created

earthquake which then generates energy that
travel as seismic waves.

You will learn about seismic waves as

you do the activity.

EXPLORE
Exploration 1: Investigating Earthquake Waves

In Grade 7, you learned that a wave is a disturbance

in a medium that carries energy from one point to another
without a net movement of particles. Similarly, the energy
generated during an earthquake travels through the earth in
a form of seismic wave.
Analyze the next picture for you to understand what
seismic wave is and how it travels through the earth.

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Legend:

. Earthquake’s Focus
Body wave

Surface wave
wave
Seismic Station

Figure 2. Seismic wave propagation in the earth.

Guide Questions:
(Use the illustration above as a guide)

1. Where do seismic waves originate? ____________________

2. Seismic waves are classified into body waves and surface waves, how
are these waves different from each other?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________________

3. Based from your answers in Q1 & 2, how do you define seismic

waves?
________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________

4. Which seismic wave will cause most damage on the earth’s ground?
Body wave or surface wave? ____________________
Why do you say so? ___________________________________

5. Based from the illustration, explain how seismic wave propagates?

______________________________________________
Exploration 2: Comparison of Seismic Waves

Body waves can be classified into P-waves (Primary) and S-waves

(Secondary), although both waves travel inside the earth they move in different
motion and speed.

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 The data below shows the arrival time of seismic wave in the seismic
station which is 500 km away from the focus. Analyze the data to determine the
difference in the propagation of seismic waves.

SEISMIC ARRIVAL TIME

WAVES (seconds)
P wave 55
S wave 90
Surface wave 140

Figure 3. Comparison of the arrival time of seismic waves

Guide Questions:
1. Using the data above, which seismic wave will be detected by the seismic
station first? ___________________________________ Which will be
detected last? _____________________________

2. What do these wave arrival-time tell on the speed of seismic waves?

______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

3. Based from the previous modules you learned that the Earthquake’s intensity
varies from the distance of the epicenter to the focus. Do you think the arrival
time of seismic waves also varies from the distance of the seismic station to
the focus of the earthquake? Why?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________

Great job! You have completed the activity. Take time

to review and analyze your answers.

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 EXPLAIN
How did you find the activity? Interesting isn’t it?
This time, try to understand the following ideas or
concepts for you to confirm the results of the
activities you have performed.

Based from the activity you performed, you

learned that seismic waves begin on the focus of the
earthquake then propagated inside and on the surface of the
earth. Hence, seismic waves are categorized based from the
location where it propagates, the waves that travel in the
earth’s interior are called Body waves while the waves that
travel on the earth’s surface are Surface waves. Therefore, Seismic waves can be
defined as wave of energy generated during an earthquake and propagated from the
focus to the different parts of the earth. Seismic wave carries large amount of energy
that can affect any materials that it passed through. However, since Surface waves
moves across the earth’s surface it causes most damages on people, structures and
natural environment.

You also learned from the activity that seismic waves can be distinguished
based from different properties including the speed the wave travels. Between P
waves and S waves which are types of Body waves, P waves travel faster than S
waves, and are first detected by seismographs in different seismic stations followed
by S wave which travel slower than P waves. Surface wave on the other hand, travel
slower than both P waves and the last waves to be detected in different seismic
stations.
The S-P interval or the time difference between the arrival of P and S
wave on different seismic stations, help seismologist locate the epicenter of the
earthquake. However, as these waves travel out from the focus, the P waves get
increasingly farther ahead of S wave which will record higher time interval. Thus, the
farther the seismic station is from the earthquake epicenter the greater will be the
difference in the arrival time of P and S wave.

Seismic waves can really change what we

already know about the earth. Let’s deepen your
understanding about the concepts as you
proceed to the next part.

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 ELABORATE
Now try to answer these questions in order to
summarize what you have learned in this
module.

1. What are seismic waves? And how do these wave travel on the earth?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
_____________________________

2. Differentiate Body wave and Surface wave.

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________

3. Among the seismic waves, which wave travel fastest?

___________________________________________________

which wave travel slowest?

___________________________________________________

4. Explain how seismic waves propagate.

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
______________________________________

Humans have not been able to travel deeper

beneath the earth’s surface due to extreme heat and
pressure but scientist believe that the earth is divided
into three parts; crust, mantle and core. How do
scientists study what is inside the earth?

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 Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the Earth's layers
which can be generated by a number of phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions and underground explosions. During an earthquake, Seismic waves carry
the energy of an earthquake away from the focus, through the earth’s interior and
across the surface, which can cause intense shaking triggering buildings and roads
to collapse.
Seismic waves are classified into body wave and S wave. These wave can
be distinguished based from how they affect the materials they passed through. For
example, When P wave propagates it move the object forward and backward similar
to the movement of a slinky toy, S wave will push the materials up and down like that
of an ocean wave. The properties of materials also affect how the waves travel, as
the waves travel through different densities, the waves can be refracted or reflected
changing the speed of its propagation. Because of the different behaviour of waves
in different materials, Seismologist can deduce the type of material the waves are
travelling through.
Seismologist use seismographs to record the amount of time it takes
seismic waves to travel through different layers of the earth. As the waves travel
through different densities, the waves can be refracted or reflected changing the
speed of its propagation. Because of the different behavior of waves in different
materials, Seismologist can deduce the type of material the waves are travelling
through.

Now that you have summarized and

understood important concepts about seismic waves
and how it travels through the earth, let’s extend your
understanding a little further by answering the next
task.

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EXTEND
Read and understand the situation below.
During your science class, your teacher read the news about
the Magnitude 5 earthquake that happened in Catanduanes last March
20, 2020. It is also included in the news that intensity 2 was felt in Iriga
City, Pili and Camarines Sur. Before he continue reading the report, he
asks one of your classmate, why these places do experienced
earthquakes on the same day? Your classmate replied that maybe
there are also separated earthquakes in that places. The teacher asks
the class if your classmate’s answer is correct.
How will you help your classmate correct his misconception
about earthquake if you are asked for an answer?

Why these places

do experienced
These are separated
earthquakes on
earthquakes on that
the same day?
places? _______________________
_______________________
_______________________
__

Great job! You have completed your task. If

you need some clarifications feel free to ask your
teacher.

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 Vocabulary List

You may refer to the following vocabulary words used in this module:

Body waves – a seismic wave that travel inside or through the earth.
Earthquake – the shaking of the earth’s surface as a result of the movement of
faults.
Epicenter – the point in the earth’s surface that is directly above the focus.
Focus – the point underneath the earth where the rupture or fault started.
P-waves– is the fastest type of body wave that can travel through both the solid rock
and molten liquid layers of the earth. When it passes through a medium the material
move in a back and forth motion.
Seismic waves– a wave that is produced by the release of energy as the earth
ruptures.
Surface wave– a seismic wave that travel on the surface of the earth and cause
more damage.
S-waves– type of body waves that arrive after the P waves because it travel more
slowly. When it passes through a medium the materials move up and down. S waves
san only travel through solid rocks.
.

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 Post-Test

E VALUATE

I know that you can now answer the

questions below. The questions will test how
much have you learned in this module. You
can do it!

Direction: Read each item carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Why scientists do uses seismic waves in studying the composition of the interior
of the Earth?

a. because seismic wave release materials from within the earth.

b. because seismic change radioactive decay rate of rocks.
c. because seismic wave travel at different rates at different materials.
d. Because seismic wave travel through the earth at a constant velocity.

2. Which is NOT true about seismic waves?

a. Seismic waves are generated during an earthquake.

b. Seismic waves travel only in an epicenter that is highly populated.
c. P waves travel faster than both S waves and surface waves.
d. Speeds of seismic waves changes at different densities of materials
.
3. Body waves start spherically from the focus. How does it travel through the
earth?

a. Entirely within the interior of the earth.

b. Along the surface of the earth.
c. Within the earth’s bodies of water.
d. Body waves stay at the focus

4. How does the energy of an earthquake travel through the earth?

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 a. Seismic waves carry the energy of an earthquake away from the
focus, through the earth’s interior and across the surface.
b. Seismic waves carry the energy of an earthquake toward from the
focus, through the earth’s interior and across the surface.
c. During an earthquake, seismic waves move toward the focus and
epicenter then move out in all direction.
d. Seismic waves stay in the focus then travel in the earth’s interior.

5. What causes the change in the speed of seismic waves as it travels through
the earth?

a. Seismic waves are colliding

b. Waves are traveling to materials of different properties.
c. S waves overtake P waves
d. Waves are passing through materials of same density.

Hooray, you have finished your module for

Seismic waves!
Please check your answers by referring to the
answer key. If you scored lower than 4, please go
over the earlier parts of this module and take on the
activities once again. If you scored 4 or above, you
are now ready for the next module.
CONGRATULATIONS!

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 Answer Keys

Pre-Test Answer Keys

1. C
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. B

Learning Activities Answer Keys

Elicit:
1. Focus/ Hypocenter
2. Epicenter
3. No, the both houses will experience different intensity. The intensity varies
place to place depending mostly from the distance from the fault.
Engage:
1. The affected based from the news are Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, Iloilo
City, Masbate City, and Davao City.
2. The earthquake was also felt in these places since earthquake releases
energy that can travel at different places on the surface of the earth.
3. Energy released by an earthquake travel in a form of waves, these waves
pass through the surface and within the earth as a result the epicenter will not
only feel the earthquake but the places near to it.

Explore 1:
1. The seismic waves begin or originate from the focus of the earthquake.
2. Body waves are waves that travel inside the earth while surface waves travel
on the surface of the earth.
3. (students answers vary) Seismic waves are waves of energy generated by
earthquake and can travel/propagate inside and on the surface of the earth.
4. Surface wave will cause most damage in earth’s ground since it is where
humans, structures and environment are located.

Explore 2:

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 1. From the data given, P wave will be detected first, followed by S wave while
Surface wave will be detected last.
2. Arrival time of the waves tells us that among the seismic waves, P waves
propagate fastest, S wave travel slower than P waves but faster than Surface
wave. While Surface waves travel the slowest among the types of seismic
waves.
3. Yes, the same with intensity arrival-time of seismic waves varies directly to
the distance of Seismic stations to the epicenter.
Elaborate:
1. Seismic waves are waves of energy created during earthquake caused by the
sudden rupture in the earth’s ground. Seismic waves carry the energy of an
earthquake away from the focus, through the earth’s interior and across the
surface.
2. Body waves are fastest type of seismic waves that travel in the interior part of
the earth. Surface waves are slower compared to body waves but it travels on
the surface of the earth.
3. P waves propagate fastest, S wave travel slower than P waves but faster
than Surface wave. While Surface waves travel the slowest among the types
of seismic waves.
4. Seismic waves propagate through the earth in different locations and speed. It
emanates from the focus and is radiated inside and on the surface of the
earth.

Extend:
1. Sample answer: My classmate’s answer is incorrect. I will answer politely that
other provinces in the region experienced earthquake as a result of seismic
propagation. Since seismic waves can pass through different materials inside
and on the surface of the earth, it is possible that the energy and shaking
caused by the earthquake will reach other places.

Post-Test Answer Keys

1. C
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. B

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 References

Sources:

Campo, Pia C, et.al. “Earth and Space.” In Science 8 Learners Material, 115–36.
Pasig Ciity, Philippines: Department of Education-Instructional Materials
Council Secretariat (DepEd-IMCS), 2013.

Campo, Pia C, et.al. “Earth and Space.” In Science 8 Teachers Guide, 115–36.
Pasig Ciity, Philippines: Department of Education-Instructional Materials
Council Secretariat (DepEd-IMCS), 2013.

Links:
News article:
Mangosing, Frances D. 7.2 quake hits Bohol. News Article,
Visayas: Inquirer.net, 2013, 1.

Photos:
Fault model from http://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks2
geography-earthquakes-12196924
Classroom Photos from http://www.tes.com/teaching-
classroomimages.cartoonme.image-12196924

Video clips:
https://youtu.be/1qyYYO3McbE.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFU3_mZdGfY

Cover Art: Seismic Wave Image by Johan Swanepoel from Shutterstock

Cover Art: Seismograph image by Dandrea Hamilton from
Magneticmediatv.com
Cover Art: Bohol Earthquake photo by Ella Mae Leonida from
wuzzappilipinas.com
Cover Art: Earth’s Interior image by David Ducros from Pixabay.com
.

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