Question

two waves that p-waves and s-waves are different

Answer 1

Here are two clear differences between P‑waves and S‑waves:

1. Particle motion and wave type
- P‑waves (primary) are longitudinal/compressional: particles oscillate back and forth in the same direction the wave travels.
- S‑waves (secondary) are transverse/shear: particles move perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

2. What they can travel through (and speed)
- P‑waves travel through solids, liquids, and gases and are faster, so they arrive first at a seismic station.
- S‑waves only travel through solids (fluids cannot support shear) and are slower, so they arrive after P‑waves.

(These differences let seismologists use P–S arrival times to locate earthquakes and reveal that Earth’s outer core is liquid because S‑waves do not pass through it.)