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6. Seismic waves are sound waves, generally produced by earthquakes and nuclear tests, that travel through the bulk of the earth. Like other kinds of waves, seismic waves are subject to reflection and refraction. Reflection requires an interface - a place with an abrupt change in material properties – but refraction can be quite gradual. If the index of refraction changes gradually in a material, the direction of wave propagation can slowly change, leading to ray paths that look like curves instead of straight lines (see Fig 34-4). In this problem we will treat the earth as having just two layers: the solid mantle and the liquid outer core. Because of the increase in pressure, the speed of seismic waves increases with depth below the Earth's surface. However, the speed drops when the outer core is reached, because it's a liquid. The sketch below represents the earth's mantle and outer core. From the star, which denotes an earthquake, sketch a ray that travels through the mantle, near but not into the outer core. Then sketch a second ray from the same earthquake that travels through (but not straight through) the outer core. Remember that refraction is occurring continuously through the mantle as the wave speed increases, and also at the boundary between the mantle and the outer core, where the speed drops. Based on these sketches, explain the existence of a "shadow zone" - a region on the surface of the earth where no seismic waves arrive from the earthquake. The observation of seismic shadow zones helped lead to the discovery that the earth's outer core is fluid (it is molten iron). Outer core mantle

6. Seismic waves are sound waves, generally produced by earthquakes and nuclear tests, that travel through the bulk of the earth. Like other kinds of waves, seismic waves are subject to reflection and refraction. Reflection requires an interface - a place with an abrupt change in material properties – but refraction can be quite gradual. If the index of refraction changes gradually in a material, the direction of wave propagation can slowly change, leading to ray paths that look like curves instead of straight lines (see Fig 34-4). In this problem we will treat the earth as having just two layers: the solid mantle and the liquid outer core. Because of the increase in pressure, the speed of seismic waves increases with depth below the Earth's surface. However, the speed drops when the outer core is reached, because it's a liquid. The sketch below represents the earth's mantle and outer core. From the star, which denotes an earthquake, sketch a ray that travels through the mantle, near but not into the outer core. Then sketch a second ray from the same earthquake that travels through (but not straight through) the outer core. Remember that refraction is occurring continuously through the mantle as the wave speed increases, and also at the boundary between the mantle and the outer core, where the speed drops. Based on these sketches, explain the existence of a "shadow zone" - a region on the surface of the earth where no seismic waves arrive from the earthquake. The observation of seismic shadow zones helped lead to the discovery that the earth's outer core is fluid (it is molten iron). Outer core mantle

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
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6. Seismic waves are sound waves, generally produced by earthquakes and nuclear tests, that travel through the bulk of the earth. Like other kinds of waves, seismic waves are subject to reflection and refraction. Reflection requires an interface - a place with an abrupt change in material properties – but refraction can be quite gradual. If the index of refraction changes gradually in a material, the direction of wave propagation can slowly change, leading to ray paths that look like curves instead of straight lines (see Fig 34-4). In this problem we will treat the earth as having just two layers: the solid mantle and the liquid outer core. Because of the increase in pressure, the speed of seismic waves increases with depth below the Earth's surface. However, the speed drops when the outer core is reached, because it's a liquid. The sketch below represents the earth's mantle and outer core. From the star, which denotes an earthquake, sketch a ray that travels through the mantle, near but not into the outer core. Then sketch a second ray from the same earthquake that travels through (but not straight through) the outer core. Remember that refraction is occurring continuously through the mantle as the wave speed increases, and also at the boundary between the mantle and the outer core, where the speed drops. Based on these sketches, explain the existence of a "shadow zone" - a region on the surface of the earth where no seismic waves arrive from the earthquake. The observation of seismic shadow zones helped lead to the discovery that the earth's outer core is fluid (it is molten iron). Outer core mantle
Transcribed Image Text:6. Seismic waves are sound waves, generally produced by earthquakes and nuclear tests, that travel through the bulk of the earth. Like other kinds of waves, seismic waves are subject to reflection and refraction. Reflection requires an interface - a place with an abrupt change in material properties – but refraction can be quite gradual. If the index of refraction changes gradually in a material, the direction of wave propagation can slowly change, leading to ray paths that look like curves instead of straight lines (see Fig 34-4). In this problem we will treat the earth as having just two layers: the solid mantle and the liquid outer core. Because of the increase in pressure, the speed of seismic waves increases with depth below the Earth's surface. However, the speed drops when the outer core is reached, because it's a liquid. The sketch below represents the earth's mantle and outer core. From the star, which denotes an earthquake, sketch a ray that travels through the mantle, near but not into the outer core. Then sketch a second ray from the same earthquake that travels through (but not straight through) the outer core. Remember that refraction is occurring continuously through the mantle as the wave speed increases, and also at the boundary between the mantle and the outer core, where the speed drops. Based on these sketches, explain the existence of a "shadow zone" - a region on the surface of the earth where no seismic waves arrive from the earthquake. The observation of seismic shadow zones helped lead to the discovery that the earth's outer core is fluid (it is molten iron). Outer core mantle
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