What does the waves of the …

• Earthquake waves are of two types — body waves and surface waves.

P- Waves

• P-waves are also known as the Primary waves. They are the first waves to arrive at the surface.
• The characteristics of P-waves are like sound waves. They travel through all three mediums- solid, liquid and gas.
• These waves have a tendency to vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. This causes density differences in the material through which they travel.
• These waves are responsible for elongating and squeezing of material.

S- Waves

• S- Waves arrive after some time after the happening of Earthquake and they are called secondary waves.
• A significant characteristic of these S-waves is that they travel only through a solid medium.
• The direction of vibration of this S-wave is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, thereby creating crests and troughs in the material of their transmission.