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Body waves versus surface waves
Short answer
Body waves travel through Earth's interior: P-waves are compressional, S-waves are shear, both faster and arrive first. Surface waves travel along the surface, are slower, have larger amplitude, and cause more damage; they include Love and Rayleigh waves.
Differentiate between body waves and surface waves (seismic waves).
| Basis | Body waves | Surface waves |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | Through the interior of the Earth | Along the Earth's surface only |
| Types | P-waves (primary) and S-waves (secondary) | Love (L) and Rayleigh (R) waves |
| Speed | Faster; P fastest | Slower |
| Arrival | First | Last |
| Particle motion | P: push-pull; S: up-down/side to side | Rolling or horizontal shaking |
| Amplitude | Smaller | Larger |
| Damage | Less | Most destructive to structures |
| Medium | P through solid, liquid, gas; S only solids | Surface layers |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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