Locating Earthquakes
This worksheet helps sixth-grade students understand how earthquakes are located using seismic waves and seismographs.
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Standards
Topics
Locating Earthquakes
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Use complete sentences for short answer questions.
1. What are the two main types of seismic waves used to locate earthquakes?
Sound waves and light waves
P-waves and S-waves
Ocean waves and radio waves
Heat waves and magnetic waves
2. Which type of seismic wave arrives first at a seismograph station?
S-wave
P-wave
Surface wave
Tsunami wave
3. A tool used to detect and record seismic waves is called a .
4. The point on Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake originates is called the .
5. Scientists use data from at least seismograph stations to locate an earthquake's epicenter.
6. Explain how the difference in arrival times between P-waves and S-waves helps scientists determine the distance to an earthquake's epicenter.
7. S-waves can travel through both solids and liquids.
True
False
8. The focus of an earthquake is always on the Earth's surface.
True
False
9. Use the diagram below to answer the following questions.
a) Label the 'epicenter' and 'focus' on the diagram.
b) Which type of seismic wave travels in a compressional motion (push and pull)?