Critical Thinking. Direction: Read this passage based on the text and answer the questions that follow.
Seismic Waves
Energy is transmitted in waves. The energy from earthquakes is transmitted in waves called seismic waves. There are two basic
types of seismic waves: body waves and surface waves. Body waves are seismic waves that travel through the solid body of
Earth. They originate at the focus of an earthquake and travel outward in all directions. Body waves include P-waves (primary
waves) and S-waves (secondary waves). P-waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases. They travel faster than any other
type of seismic waves, so they are always the first waves to arrive at seismometers. P-waves move rocks forward and backward
in the same direction that the waves are traveling. S-waves can travel only through solids. They travel more slowly than P-
waves, so they reach seismometers after P-waves. S-waves move rocks up and down perpendicular to the direction that the
waves are traveling. Surface waves travel along the ground rather than through Earth. They travel outward from an
earthquake's epicenter rather than its focus. They are the slowest of all seismic waves. Surface waves include Love waves and
Rayleigh waves. Love waves cause the ground to move back and forth perpendicular to the direction that the waves are
traveling. Rayleigh waves cause the ground to move in a circular motion. The combined ground movements of Love and
Rayleigh waves give the surface of the ground a rolling motion. This motion causes most of the damage in an earthquake.
Questions
1. Distinguish between body waves and surface waves.
2. Describe the motions of rocks caused by P-waves and S-waves.
3. How do Love waves and Rayleigh waves move the ground?​