What happens to the distance in arrival times between P waves and S waves as the distance from an earthquake increases?

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2026-08-05 05:55

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As the distance from an earthquake increases, the time difference between the arrival of P waves and S waves remains constant. This is because P waves (primary waves) travel faster than S waves (secondary waves), regardless of the distance. While both waves travel outward from the epicenter, the speed difference ensures that the interval between their arrivals does not change, allowing seismologists to determine the distance to the earthquake's epicenter based on this consistent time gap.

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