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Seismic waves are classified as body waves and surface waves. An example of a body wave is a (A) Rayleigh wave. (B) primary wave (P-wave). (C) Love wave. (D) tertiary wave (T-wave).

User Joncodo
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Final answer:

Seismic waves are categorized as body waves and surface waves. Body waves, which travel through the Earth's interior, include P-waves (longitudinal) and S-waves (transverse). An example of a body wave is a primary wave, or B) P-wave.

Step-by-step explanation:

Seismic waves, disturbances caused by earthquakes, are classified into two main types: body waves and surface waves. Body waves travel through the interior of the Earth, and include both longitudinal and transverse components.

The longitudinal waves in earthquakes are termed pressure or P-waves, while the transverse waves are referred to as shear or S-waves. These types of waves propagate at different speeds based on the rigidity of the medium they pass through. For instance, P-waves in granite are significantly quicker compared to S-waves.

Surface waves, on the other hand, move along the Earth's surface, much like the water waves traverse the surface of a pond or ocean. Examples include Rayleigh waves and Love waves.

It's important to note that although P-waves and S-waves trigger these surface waves, they are not themselves considered surface waves, thus making option B the correct answer to the original question, an example of a body wave is a primary wave (P-wave).

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