Question

An earthquake releases two types of traveling seismic waves, called transverse and longitudinal waves. The average speed of the transverse and longitudinal waves in rock are 8.8 km/s and 5.9 km/s respectively. A seismograph records the arrival of the transverse waves 69 s before that of the longitudinal waves. Assuming the waves travel in straight lines, how far away is the center of the earthquake

Answer 1

1239.216 km

Step-by-step explanation:

The speed of the transverse = 8.8km/s

The speed of the longitudinal = 5.9km/s

distance = speed x time,

8.8km/s x trans_time = 5.9km/s x long_time

8.8 / 5.9 = long_time / trans_time

1.49 = long_time / trans_time

long_time = 1.49 trans_time

the transverse wave was 69s faster than longitudinal,

trans_time - long_time = 69s

trans_time - 1.49trans_time = 69s

0.49 trans_time = 69

trans_time = 69 / 0.49 = 140.82s

long_time = 140.82 - 69 = 71.82s

the distance of the earthquake;

distance = 8.8 x 140.82 = 1239.216 km