Asked by london
Dr. Chang is studying seismic waves. He notices that seismic waves (a type known as P-waves) travel faster through the mantle than through the outer core. What can he conclude from this observation?
A.
The outer core is not as dense as the mantle.
B.
The mantle is wider than the inner core.
C.
The inner core is wider than the mantle.
D.
The mantle is not as dense as the outer core.
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
D
P-wave speed depends on the elastic moduli and density of the material. The outer core is liquid (no shear strength) and is denser than the mantle, so P-waves travel more slowly through it. Thus the mantle is not as dense as the outer core.
P-wave speed depends on the elastic moduli and density of the material. The outer core is liquid (no shear strength) and is denser than the mantle, so P-waves travel more slowly through it. Thus the mantle is not as dense as the outer core.
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