i know that p waves are the fastest of the seismic waves but it can be slowed depending on the factors that affect it's velocity ,so could s waves arrive first if they were in conditions less suited to p waves
Answers (1)
'P' waves or Primary waves are called that for the specific reason that they are primary, that they arrive first. 'S' waves or Secondary waves are just that, secondary, as in after the primary waves. 'P' waves are twice as fast (5000m/s in granite) as 'S' waves due to the waves form, 'P' waves are longtitudinal and 'S' waves are tranverse. There is no way that 'S' waves can arrive before 'P' waves as, in the main sense, they would then be called 'P' waves.
Other waves include Love waves, Rayleigh waves, Stoneley waves and Surface waves... I'm not sure what they include in 'A' level Geology now as it's been 15 years since I did mine so I haven't given the information on them. You can look up details online for them if you want that information.
Glad I could help :)
they include Rayleigh ,surface and Love waves ,but they make no distinction between Love and surface .Thanks by the way