Final answer:
Image A represents transverse or shear (S) waves whereas Image B represents longitudinal or pressure (P) waves. Transverse waves move perpendicular to propagation direction, and longitudinal waves parallel. Understanding wave types is essential for earthquake analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both images represent surface waves moving through Earth materials: Image A represents transverse waves or shear waves, and image B represents longitudinal waves or pressure waves.
In transverse waves, the disturbance moves perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Conversely, in longitudinal waves, the disturbance moves parallel to the wave's direction of propagation. Geologists use the differences in propagation speeds of these waves to study earthquakes, utilizing the fact that P-waves travel faster than S-waves through various materials.
Identifying these types of waves is crucial because it helps geologists determine the distance to an earthquake's epicenter—using the time difference between P-waves and S-waves—as well as understand the material properties of Earth's interior.