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Seismic station X is 800 kilometers from the epicenter. Approximately how long did it take the P-wave to travel to station X?

a) 10 seconds
b) 20 seconds
c) 30 seconds
d) 40 seconds

User Gumbo
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1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The approximate time it took for the P-wave to travel to seismic station X is 13.33 seconds.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to determine the time it took for the P-wave to travel to seismic station X, we need to know the velocity of the P-wave. Unfortunately, the given information does not provide this velocity. However, we can use the information from a similar problem. In another question, it was stated that the time difference between a 2 km/s S-wave and a 6 km/s P-wave was 10 seconds. We can use this information to calculate the distance from the epicenter to station X.

Given that the speed of the P-wave is 6 km/s and the time difference is 10 seconds, we can set up the equation as follows:

Distance = Velocity x Time

Distance = 6 km/s x 10 seconds

Distance = 60 kilometers

Therefore, the distance from the epicenter to station X is 60 kilometers. Since seismic station X is 800 kilometers from the epicenter, it would take the P-wave approximately 800/60 = 13.33 seconds to travel to station X.

User BCDeWitt
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