Final answer:
The amplitudes of P waves and S waves on a seismogram can indicate the energy released during an earthquake, with higher amplitudes suggesting a more powerful quake. P waves, being faster, arrive before S waves, which are more damaging.
Step-by-step explanation:
The information from a seismogram that tells scientists about the amount of energy released during an earthquake is the amplitudes of P waves and S waves. When an earthquake occurs, it releases energy that propagates through the Earth in the form of seismic waves. These waves include both P waves (pressure waves) and S waves (shear waves), which travel through the interior of the Earth. The amplitude of these waves is related to the amount of energy carried by them. Since P waves are compressional waves and travel faster, they arrive at seismograph stations first. S waves, which arrive after P waves, are more damaging due to their motion but provide useful information about the earthquake’s energy when their amplitudes are analyzed.
All waves carry energy, and large-amplitude waves indicate a more powerful earthquake. As these waves spread out from the earthquake's epicenter, their amplitude decreases, leading to less damage farther away. The difference in arrival times between P and S waves can be used to calculate the distance to the earthquake’s epicenter, while the seismic wave amplitude can help estimate the energy released by the quake.