Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
p-wave
Noun
/ˈpiː.weɪv/
Definition
A type of seismic wave that causes particles in the ground to move in the same direction as the wave, thereby compressing and expanding the material through which it travels.
Examples
- The initial tremor was identified as a p-wave, which helped scientists predict further seismic activity.
- P-waves can travel through solid and liquid layers of the Earth, unlike secondary waves.
Meaning
P-waves are primary waves generated by earthquakes, travelling fastest through the Earth’s crust and are the first to be recorded by seismographs.
Synonyms
- primary wave
- compressional wave
