Question

Which waves caused by the earthquakes cause maximum damage and destruction on earth’s surface?
A. P waves
B. S waves
C. Distortional waves
D. Surface waves

Answer 1

Hint:
The waves which cause maximum damage are categorized in two types which were named after the scientists who discovered them. These waves are caused due to friction between the wind and water surface. Sometimes the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on the surface of earth also causes these waves.

Complete solution:
The correct answer is Surface waves; it is a type of mechanical wave that propagates along the interface between different media. In the geographical terms, surface waves are the seismic waves that are trapped near the surface of the earth. The two types of surface waves are Love waves and Rayleigh waves, named the scientists. Love waves have a horizontal motion that moves along the surface from side to side. Out of the two waves, Love waves travel or move faster. In the surface waves, particles of the respective medium move up and down along with back and forth in a circular motion. Surface waves are generally created when the source of an earthquake is close to the surface of earth and as the name itself suggests these waves travel just below the ground surface. Surface waves of various wavelengths tend to travel at different velocities, also they produce more ground movements and travel slowly thus they take a long time to pass; resulting in more damage and destruction on earth’s surface.

Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Note:
P waves can travel through any medium that is solid, liquid and gas, whereas S waves can only travel through solids. In case of P waves, the vibration of the rock occurs in the direction of propagation and these are the fastest waves. In case of S waves, the movement of rock is perpendicular to the direction of propagation.