Name ____________________________________________
Speed of Seismic Waves and Earthquake Epicenter Location
Purpose
The purpose of this lab is for you to identify the different velocities at which seismic waves
generated by an earthquake travel through the earth. You will then use this information to
calculate the approximate distance to an earthquake’s epicenter.
Materials
Microsoft Excel
colored pencils
drawing compass
Procedure
Use the data on the distance and travel time for primary and secondary seismic waves shown in table
15-1 to construct a line graph in Microsoft Excel. The X-axis will be labeled “Distance (KM)” and the Yaxis will be labeled “Time (minutes).” Use a different color for each seismic wave and be sure to provide
a legend identifying each type of wave.
Next, plot another line graph that shows the relationship between the difference in the arrival times for
both the primary and secondary seismic waves, and the distance from the earthquake epicenter shown
in table 15-2. The X-axis will be labeled “Distance to Epicenter (KM)” and the Y-axis will be labeled
“Difference between P and S Wave Arrival Time (minutes).” Use both of your line graphs to answer the
conclusion questions.
Conclusions
1. Using your graph on P and S wave travel times, proximally how long will it take and S-wave to
travel 4000 km?
2. Using your graph on P and S wave travel times, proximally how long will it take a P-wave to
travel 4000 km?
3. Using your graph on P and S wave travel times, approximately how far will a P-wave travel in 3
minutes?
4. Using your graph on P and S wave travel times, proximally how far will and S-wave travel in 3
minutes?
5. Based on the data you plotted on your graphs, which seismic wave travels a greater velocity?
6. How far away from the epicenter of an earthquake are you if the difference between the arrival
time of P and S waves is 9 minutes?
7. If a P-wave arrives at your location at 3:25 PM and the S-wave arrives at 3:32 PM, how far away
is the earthquake epicenter?
8. If a P-wave arrives at your location at 11:15 AM and the S-wave arrives at 11:17 AM, how far
away is the earthquake epicenter?
I hereby declare upon my word of honor that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on
this work.
______________________________________________________
Name ____________________________________________
2013
9. Using your graph on the difference between P and S wave arrival times, the data below, and
help from Mr. Mosser, locate the approximate location of an earthquake’s epicenter location on
the map in figure 15-1. Use a drawing compass to draw the radius distance from each seismic
station where the earthquake occurred. Where the 3 circles converges the approximate location
of the earthquake epicenter.
a. Seattle, Washington: P-wave arrival time-11:18:00 a.m., S-wave arrival time-11:20:20
a.m.
b. Miami, Florida: P-wave arrival time-2:21:20 p.m., S-wave arrival time-2:26:20 p.m.
c. Portland, Maine: P-wave arrival time-2:22:00 p.m., S-wave arrival time-2:27:40 p.m.
10. Using the data from question 9, determine at what time the earthquake occurred on the West
Coast (P-wave arrival time minus P-wave travel time).
Table 15-2: Seismic Waves from Earthquake Epicenter
Approximate Distance to Epicenter (km)
Difference Between P- and S-Wave Arrival Time
(minutes)
0
0
800
1
1200
2
1800
3
2800
4
3200
5
4200
6
5400
7
6400
8
7600
9
8800
10
2