Question

A seismographic station receives S and P waves from an earthquake, separated in time by 17.8 s. Assume the waves have traveled over the same path at speeds of 4.50 km/s and 6.90 km/s. Find the distance from the seismograph to the focus of the quake.

Answer 1

D = 230.2 Km

Step-by-step explanation:

let distance between seismograph and focus of quake is D

From time distance formula we can calculate the time taken by the S wave

`T_1 =(D)/(4.5)`

From time distance formula we can calculate the time taken by the P wave

`T_2 =(D)/(6.90)`

It is given in equation both waves are seperated from each other by 17.8 sec

so we have

`T_1 - T_2 = 17.8`sec

Putting both time value to get distance value

`(D)/(4.5) - (D)/(6.90) = 17.8`

D = 230.2 Km