Question

Which statements concerning how geologists locate an earthquake’s epicenter are accurate? Check all that apply.

A) Geologists use seismic waves to locate the center of an earthquake.
B) The epicenter of an earthquake is located at the same place as the seismograph.
C) Geologists use data from two data stations to determine the location of an earthquake.
D) Geologists use data from three or more data stations to determine the location of the epicenter.
E) A seismograph measures the difference between the arrivals of P waves and S waves.

Answer 1

A, D, and E.

- A: True — seismic (P and S) waves are used to locate where an earthquake occurred.
- D: True — at least three stations are used (triangulation) to pinpoint the epicenter.
- E: True — seismograms record P and S arrivals; the difference in arrival times is measured to find distance to the epicenter.

B and C are false: the seismograph is not at the epicenter, and two stations alone do not give a unique epicenter location.