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Seismic Waves Slinky Lab

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Seismic Waves Slinky Lab

Read the field notes and use the information in each question to solve each task. A slinky models how a disturbance travels; its coils represent particles in a material.

Field notes: two kinds of seismic waves

At an earthquake, energy travels away from the source as seismic waves. In a P-wave, particles vibrate back and forth in the same direction the wave travels. This longitudinal motion creates compressions, where particles bunch together, and rarefactions, where they spread apart. P-waves are the fastest seismic waves and can travel through solids and liquids. In an S-wave, particles vibrate at right angles to the wave’s travel direction. This transverse motion can travel through solids, but not liquids. S-waves travel more slowly than P-waves. Seismographs record arriving waves; comparing their arrival times helps scientists locate earthquakes and learn about Earth’s interior.

Decode the wave evidence

Use the field notes and the information in each question to answer each question.

1.Which choice correctly describes particle motion in a P-wave?

Particles move at right angles to the wave’s travel.
Particles move back and forth parallel to the wave’s travel.
Particles move in circles around their starting points.
Particles move only in the direction the wave travels.

2.A slinky pulse moves from left to right while its coils wiggle up and down. Which wave type does this model?

P-wave, because the coils move parallel to travel
S-wave, because the coils move perpendicular to travel
P-wave, because it cannot move through solids
S-wave, because it travels faster than a P-wave

3.Complete the comparison: P-waves are than S-waves, and S-waves cannot travel through .

4.In a longitudinal wave, what is a compression? Describe what the slinky coils do there.

5.True or false: In a transverse S-wave, particle motion is parallel to the direction the wave travels. Correct the statement if it is false.

TrueFalse

6.An earthquake monitoring station detects a P-wave before an S-wave from the same quake. What does this tell scientists about the waves’ speeds?

7.Scientists detect S-waves stopping at a layer inside Earth. Based on the field notes, what might this suggest about that layer?

8.Plan a fair slinky test to compare a P-wave model with an S-wave model. State one thing to keep the same and what you would change.

9.Why is a slinky a useful model for seismic waves, and what is one way it is not exactly like Earth?

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Seismic Waves Slinky Lab

Seismic Waves Slinky Lab

Field notes: two kinds of seismic waves

Decode the wave evidence

2 printable pages

About This Worksheet

Free in Kuraplan

Print-Ready

AI-Generated

For Teachers & Parents

Need a custom version of this worksheet?

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