What makes S-waves (secondary waves) distinct from P-waves in the context of earthquake detection?
Answer
They are slower and more destructive
In seismic wave terminology, P-waves are primary waves that arrive first at a sensor because they travel at a higher velocity, though they typically cause less damage. S-waves, or secondary waves, arrive later because they travel more slowly, but they carry significantly more energy and result in the intense ground shaking that is responsible for the majority of damage caused by an earthquake.
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