Which earthquake waves arrive from the source last?Group of answer choicesP-wavesS-wavesSurface waves

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the types of earthquake waves: P-waves, S-waves, and Surface waves.
2. Understand the order of arrival of these waves at a seismic station.

Relevant Concepts

1. P-waves (Primary waves): These are compressional waves that are the fastest to travel through the Earth. They move through both solids and liquids.
2. S-waves (Secondary waves): These are shear waves that arrive after P-waves. They can only move through solids.
3. Surface waves: These travel along the Earth’s surface and arrive last because they have the slowest speed compared to P-waves and S-waves.

Analysis and Detail

• P-waves are the first to be detected by seismographs.
• S-waves follow, as they propagate slower than P-waves.
• Surface waves, being the slowest, cause the most significant damage despite arriving last.

Verify and Summarize

In summary, while P-waves are the fastest and detectable first, S-waves come next, and the surface waves, being the last to arrive, travel at the slowest speed.

Final Answer

Surface waves arrive from the source last.