Seismic Waves
Seismic waves are energy waves that are created by earthquakes. There is three different types of seismic waves Primary waves(P-waves), Secondary waves(S-waves), and Surface waves.
Primary Waves
Primary Waves travel faster than all three types of seismic waves. Primary waves can travel through solids, gases, and liquids. Primary waves give a single if there is going to be an earthquake. Primary waves can go through the shadow zones.
Secondary waves
Secondary waves can only pass through solids not liquids. That is how scientests have inferred that some of the Earth's layers like the outer core is made of liquid because secondary waves can not pass through it. Secondary waves is the second fastest wave out of all three.
Surface Waves
Surface waves known as Rayleigh Waves
Surface waves only travel through the crust. Surface waves cause the most damage during an earthquake. Surface waves are also known as "Rayleigh Waves". Surface waves are easily identified on seismographs when an earthquake is happening.