An earthquake is caused by the sudden sliding movement of tectonic plates against each other.

S waves are transverse seismic waves that travel through solids but not liquids.

P waves are longitudinal seismic waves that travel at different speeds through solids and liquids.

A transverse wave is where the wave oscillates perpendicular to the direction of travel.

A longitudinal wave is where the wave oscillates along the direction of travel with areas of compression and rarefaction.

Probing planet Earth

Combined science

In the Electromagnetic waves unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about the reflection and refraction of light, other types of electromagnetic radiation in the EM spectrum and the helpful and harmful effects of each type of radiation.

In the Waves unit, pupils learnt about the properties and propagation of transverse and longitudinal waves.

Measuring waves

Which statement best describes where earthquakes occur?

The oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of travel.

The oscillations are both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of travel.

Which of the statements about S waves are correct?

Fill in the gap: P waves are {{}} seismic waves that travel at different speeds through solids and liquids.

Starting with the outermost layer, sort the different layers of the Earth into the correct order.

What causes S waves and P waves to curve as they travel through the Earth?

Fill in the gap: Water waves are an example of {{}} waves.

What's the missing word? Sound waves and ultrasound are examples of {{}} waves.

A wave that has too high a frequency to hear.

A wave used in mobile phone communications.

The wave always goes in the same direction.

What type of waves cannot travel through liquids?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Probing planet Earth

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.