UPCAT Science Practice Test

Body waves refer to seismic waves that travel through the inner layers of the Earth. They include both P waves (primary waves) and S waves (secondary waves).

P waves are longitudinal waves that can compress and expand the material they travel through, allowing them to move through both solids and liquids. In contrast, S waves are transverse waves that only move through solids, as they cannot propagate through liquids.

The term "body waves" encompasses both of these types, highlighting their ability to travel through the Earth's interior as opposed to just along its surface. This is an important distinction in seismology, as understanding how these waves behave can provide valuable information regarding the composition and state of the Earth's inner structure. Surface waves, while significant in terms of their effects during an earthquake, do not travel through the Earth's interior, which is why they are categorized separately from body waves.