Interactive 3D Seismic Waves Simulator by ForgeFX

http://www.forgefx.com/casestudies/prenticehall/ph/seismic/seismic-waves-simu...

What happens to the ground during an earthquake? Find out by creating your own earthquake using this interactive 3D simulation developed by ForgeFX for Pearson Prentice Hall. An actual earthquake will always create Primary, Secondary, and Surface waves, using this 3D simulation students can isolate waves to understand the different types of seismic activity.

The first waves to arrive are primary waves, or P waves, P waves are seismic waves that compress and expand the ground like an accordion. P waves cause buildings to contract and expand. After P waves come secondary waves, or S waves. S waves are earthquake waves that vibrate from side to side as well as up and down. They shake the ground back and forth. When S waves reach the surface, they shake structures violently.

When P waves and S waves reach the surface, some of them are transformed into surface waves. Surface waves move more slowly than P waves and S waves, but they produce the most severe ground movements. During an earthquake, all three types of seismic waves are produced. They race out from the focus in all directions, carrying the energy of an earthquake away from the focus.


During an earthquake the exact speed of P and S waves varies depending on the material they are traveling through. The ratio between the speeds of the two waves will remain relatively constant. P waves generally travel 1.7 times faster than S waves. Using this ratio, scientists can calculate the distance between any point on the earth's surface and the earthquake's focus.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• seismicwaves
• seismic waves
• interactive simulation
• seismic simulator
• earthquake simulation
• forgefx

[terr208]

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