This diagram covers P-Waves vs S-Waves within Seismic Waves for GCSE Physics. Revise Seismic Waves in Waves for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 3 of 14 in this topic. Focus on the labels, the relationships between parts, and the explanation that turns the diagram into an exam-ready answer.
Topic position
Section 3 of 14
Practice
13 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
📊 P-Waves vs S-Waves
Figure 1: P-waves are longitudinal and pass through all media; S-waves are transverse and cannot pass through liquids
KEY EVIDENCE: S-waves don't reach the opposite side of Earth from an earthquake. This proves the outer core is liquid — S-waves cannot travel through liquids!
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Seismic Waves. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for Seismic Waves
What type of wave is a P-wave (primary seismic wave)?
State two differences between P-waves and S-waves in terms of how the particles move and what materials they can travel through.
Quick Recall Flashcards
13 questions on Seismic Waves — practise free
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