P-waves (primary waves) are a type of seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior during an earthquake. They travel by alternately compressing and expanding the material they pass through, like sound waves through air.
P-waves are longitudinal waves, which means that the particles in the material through which the waves are traveling move back and forth in the same direction that the waves are moving. This is in contrast to transverse waves, such as S waves, which cause particles to move perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
Because P-waves travel through the interior of the Earth, they can penetrate through solid and liquid materials. They are faster than other types of seismic waves, and have been observed to travel at speeds of up to 14 km/s (8.7 mi/s) in the Earth's crust.
How do p waves travel
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