As a seismologist with extensive experience in studying the behavior of seismic waves, I can explain the differences between P and S waves. P and S waves are the two primary types of seismic waves that are generated during an earthquake. They differ in several key ways: 1. Speed: P-waves are faster than S-waves. This is why P-waves are often referred to as "primary" waves; they are the first waves to arrive at a seismograph after an earthquake. 2. Composition: P-waves are compressional waves, meaning they compress the material through which they are traveling. They can travel through both solids and liquids. On the other hand, S-waves, or shear waves, move material in a transverse motion, perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel. S-waves can only travel through solids because liquids cannot sustain shear stress. 3. Shaking: S-waves are responsible for the side-to-side and up-and-down shaking that can cause damage during an earthquake. P-waves, while they can cause a sensation of a sudden jolt, do not produce the same level of destructive shaking as S-waves. 4. Detection: Due to their nature, S-waves can be more easily detected by seismographs in areas where the crust is solid, providing valuable information about the earthquake's source. 5. Use in Earth Structure Studies: The difference in speed between P and S waves can be used to study the structure of the Earth's interior. For example, the absence of S-waves in certain areas can indicate the presence of liquid, such as the outer core. In summary, P-waves and S-waves are distinct in their speed, the manner in which they travel, the type of material they can pass through, and the type of ground motion they produce. read more >>

Energy released during an earthquake travels in the form of waves around the Earth. Two types of seismic wave exist, P- and S-waves. They are different in the way that they travel through the Earth. P-waves (P stands for primary) arrive at the detector first.read more >>