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The paths of seismic waves reveal where the makeup or form of the rock changes.

a) True
b) False

User TheLizzard
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Final answer:

The statement regarding seismic waves revealing changes in the makeup or form of the Earth's interior rock is true. Seismic wave behavior, including refraction when encountering different materials, assists in constructing models of Earth's layers and helps scientists understand Earth's internal structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the paths of seismic waves reveal where the makeup or form of the rock changes is true. Seismic waves speed up or slow down and change direction when they encounter different materials within the Earth’s interior. This behavior, known as refraction, indicates variations in composition and state of the Earth’s layers. For instance, P-waves, which are primary seismic waves, can travel through solids and liquids but S-waves, or secondary waves, can only travel through solids. This contrasting behavior of P and S waves has allowed scientists to deduce that the outer core of the Earth must be liquid since S-waves do not pass through it. Furthermore, the paths of seismic waves detected by networks of seismographs help scientists construct detailed models of the Earth's internal structure. These seismic studies reveal the boundaries between different Earth layers such as the crust, mantle, and core, and they play a critical role in our understanding of Earth's interior.

User CharlesA
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