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The velocity of the transverse waves produced by an earthquake is 8.9 km/s, and that of the longitudinal waves is 5.1 km/s. A seismograph re
Question
The velocity of the transverse waves produced by an earthquake is 8.9 km/s, and that of the longitudinal waves is 5.1 km/s. A seismograph records the arrival of the transverse waves 68 s before the arrival of the longitudinal waves. How far away is the earthquake?
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Physics
5 years
2021-08-23T00:05:59+00:00
2021-08-23T00:05:59+00:00 1 Answers
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Answer: The distance is 723.4km
Explanation:
The velocity of the transverse waves is 8.9km/s
The velocity of the longitudinal wave is 5.1 km/s
The transverse one reaches 68 seconds before the longitudinal.
if the distance is X, we know that:
X/(9.8km/s) = T1
X/(5.1km/s) = T2
T2 = T1 + 68s
Where T1 and T2 are the time that each wave needs to reach the sesmograph.
We replace the third equation into the second and get:
X/(9.8km/s) = T1
X/(5.1km/s) = T1 + 68s
Now, we can replace T1 from the first equation into the second one:
X/(5.1km/s) = X/(9.8km/s) + 68s
Now we can solve it for X and find the distance.
X/(5.1km/s) – X/(9.8km/s) = 68s
X(1/(5.1km/s) – 1/(9.8km/s)) = X*0.094s/km= 68s
X = 68s/0.094s/km = 723.4 km