P-waves
First earthquake arrivals
P-waves are the fastest seismic waves generated by earthquakes, traveling through Earth's interior as compression pulses—the same motion as sound waves through air.
They arrive first at seismograph stations, hence "primary waves." P-waves can travel through solid rock and liquid, unlike the slower S-waves (secondary waves) that follow.
The time gap between P-wave and S-wave arrival helps determine an earthquake's distance and location.
Seismic ground movement
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
- seismographEarthquake measuring device
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
focus · seismology · tremor · fault · magnitude · arrival time · velocity · crust
Cardiac electrical recording
- electrocardiogramHeart's electrical activity record
- heart rhythmPattern of heartbeats
- sinus rhythmHeart's proper electrical timing
- arrhythmiaAbnormal cardiac rhythm
heartbeat · cardiogram · lead · flutter · fibrillation · pacemaker · cardiac cycle · baseline
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
- seismographEarthquake measuring device
epicenter · focus · seismology · tremor · fault · magnitude · arrival time · velocity · crust · mantle
ECG
Cardiac electrical recording
- electrocardiogramHeart's electrical activity record
- heart rhythmPattern of heartbeats
- sinus rhythmHeart's proper electrical timing
arrhythmia · heartbeat · cardiogram · lead · flutter · fibrillation · pacemaker · cardiac cycle · baseline · morphology
- waveswavelength, ripples, wavefront, surf, waveform
- seismologyearthquake, earthquakes, seismograph, seismicity, seismometer
- earthquake effectsearthquake, aftershock, aftershocks, tremor, tremors
- seismic activityearthquake, quake, tremor, aftershock, foreshock
- geophysicsearthquake, earthquakes, seismology, seismic waves, seismograph
- seismic wavesS-waves, body waves, surface waves