Locating Earthquakes
This worksheet helps students understand how earthquakes are located using seismic waves and triangulation.
Includes
Standards
Topics
Locating Earthquakes
Name:
Date:
Score:
Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability.
1. Which type of seismic wave arrives first at a seismograph station?
S-waves
P-waves
Surface waves
T-waves
2. What is the minimum number of seismograph stations needed to locate an earthquake's epicenter?
One
Two
Three
Four
3. The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake is called the .
4. The method used to pinpoint an earthquake's epicenter using data from multiple seismograph stations is known as .
5. P-waves can travel through both solids and liquids.
True
False
6. S-waves travel faster than P-waves.
True
False
7. Briefly explain how the difference in arrival times between P-waves and S-waves is used to determine the distance to an earthquake's epicenter.
8. Observe the diagram below showing an earthquake. Label the Focus and the Epicenter in the diagram.
(Focus)
(Epicenter)