These waves are higher frequency than surface waves. P waves are also known as compressional waves, because they push and pull. Particles subjected to a P wave move in the same direction that the wave ...

The diagrams show what happens when P waves and S waves pass through the Earth. S waves do not pass through the Earth's core S waves cannot pass through the liquid outer core, but P waves can.

As a compressional wave passes, the material first compresses and then expands. P-waves (P stands for primary) are compressional earthquake waves that pass through the interior of the Earth.

The core itself consists of a solid inner core and a liquid outer core. There are three types of seismic waves – P waves, S waves and surface waves. P waves are longitudinal waves, and their ...