A student researching earthquakes has taken notes:
• Earthquakes release energy from stress along faults • The moment magnitude scale measures earthquake size • P-waves travel faster and arrive before S-waves • Seismographs detect ground motion worldwide • Early warning systems can provide seconds of advance notice
The student wants to explain how earthquake early warning works.
Earthquakes release energy accumulated from stress along fault lines.
Early warning systems work because P-waves travel faster than destructive S-waves—detecting P-waves provides crucial seconds of warning before stronger shaking arrives.
The moment magnitude scale has replaced the Richter scale for measuring earthquakes.
Seismographs detect and record ground motion from earthquakes worldwide.
Correct Answer: B
Choice B. Faster P-waves providing warning before S-waves explains early warning.