UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Describe "S" waves in detail including what the "s" means. - Correct Answer- Secondary
waves travel along Earths outer layer move at right angles to direction they travel. Travel
only through solids. Slower than P waves
Describe "P" waves in detail including what the "p" means. - Correct Answer- Primary waves
push-pull compressional waves move in direction waves travel. Travel through solids, liquids
and gases, fastest of all earthquake waves.
What is a tsunami? - Correct Answer- Seismic sea wave triggered by underwater earthquake
and shift in slab on ocean floor.
Describe how tsunami travels through water of different depths. - Correct Answer- Travels
faster in deeper water
Describe the composition of continental crust. - Correct Answer- Granitic rock with density
of 2.7 g/cm3. Less dense than oceanic crust.
How old is continental crust? - Correct Answer- Up to 4 billion years
How old is oceanic crust? - Correct Answer- 180 million years of less
What is the core of the Earth made of? - Correct Answer- Iron-Nickel alloy
What is the mantle made of? How do we know this? - Correct Answer- Peridotite, lava flows
Where did the most deadly Earthquake in the US occur? - Correct Answer- San Francisco