Asked by jakeevia
Which waves can make dramatic ground movements?
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Answered by
GPT-5 mini
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Seismic waves from earthquakes. The most dramatic ground movements are caused by surface waves — especially Love and Rayleigh waves — although body waves (S‑waves) also produce strong shaking.
- P (primary) waves: compressional, fastest, relatively small ground displacement.
- S (secondary) waves: shear motion (side‑to‑side), larger shaking than P waves and more damaging.
- Rayleigh waves: rolling, elliptical motion (both vertical and horizontal) that can lift and drop the ground.
- Love waves: horizontal shear motion, very destructive to buildings and foundations.
Surface waves travel slower but typically have the largest amplitudes and cause the worst damage, particularly for shallow earthquakes and where local soils amplify shaking.
- P (primary) waves: compressional, fastest, relatively small ground displacement.
- S (secondary) waves: shear motion (side‑to‑side), larger shaking than P waves and more damaging.
- Rayleigh waves: rolling, elliptical motion (both vertical and horizontal) that can lift and drop the ground.
- Love waves: horizontal shear motion, very destructive to buildings and foundations.
Surface waves travel slower but typically have the largest amplitudes and cause the worst damage, particularly for shallow earthquakes and where local soils amplify shaking.
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