Question

g An earthquake P wave is traveling at 8.00 km/s through the Earth between two different kinds of material. If the wave approaches the boundary at an incident angle of 52.0 deg and the angle of refraction is 31.0 degrees, what is the speed of the P wave in the second medium? Use 'km/s' for your units.

Answer 1

5.23 km/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Velocity of P wave in first medium, V1 = 8 km/s

angle of incidence in first medium, i = 52 degree

angle of refraction in second medium, r = 31 degree

Let the velocity of P wave in second medium is V2.

By use of Snell's law

`(Sini)/(Sinr)=(Velocity of P wave in first medium)/(velocity of P wave in second medium)`

`(Sin52)/(Sin31)=(8)/(V_(2))`

`(0.788)/(0.515)=(8)/(V_(2))`

`V_(2)=(8)/(1.53)`

V2 = 5.23 km/s