How are P waves and S waves different?

As a seismologist with extensive experience in the study of earthquakes and the seismic waves they produce, I can provide a detailed comparison between P waves and S waves. P waves and S waves are two primary types of seismic waves that are generated during an earthquake. They differ in several key aspects: 1. Speed: P waves travel faster than S waves. This is why P waves are often referred to as "primary" waves; they are the first to be detected by seismographs at a distance from the earthquake's epicenter. 2. Composition: P waves are compressional waves, meaning they cause particles in the Earth's material to move back and forth in the same direction as the wave is traveling. S waves, on the other hand, are shear or secondary waves, causing particles to move perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel. 3. Behavior in Media: P waves can travel through both solids and liquids, which is why they can pass through the Earth's outer core, which is liquid. S waves, however, can only travel through solids, so they are unable to pass through the liquid outer core and are confined to the Earth's mantle and crust. 4. Damage Potential: S waves typically cause more damage at the surface than P waves because they shake the ground side to side and up and down, which can lead to more structural damage. P waves cause a less violent, more uniform back-and-forth motion. 5. Detection: Because P waves arrive first and are faster, they can be used to provide an early warning for the arrival of the more destructive S waves, which can be crucial for earthquake early warning systems. In summary, P waves and S waves are distinct in their speed, the way they move through the Earth, their ability to travel through different media, and the type of damage they can cause.

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.