SOLUTION: Seismographs can record two types of wave energy (P waves and S waves) that travel through the Earth after an earthquake. Traveling through granite, P waves travel approximately 5

Question 1138286: Seismographs can record two types of wave energy (P waves and S waves) that travel through the Earth after an earthquake. Traveling through granite, P waves travel approximately 5 km/sec and S waves travel approximately 3 km/sec. If a geologist working at a seismic station measures a time difference of 40 sec between an earthquake's P waves and S waves, how far from the epicenter of the earthquake is the station?
Answer by ikleyn(52784) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

Let d be the distance from the epicenter of the earthquake to the station (in kilometers).


For P-wave, the traveling time is   seconds.


For S-wave, the traveling time is   seconds.


The difference is


     -  = 40  seconds.


It is your "time" equation.


To solve it, multiply all terms by 15 = 3*5.  You will get


    5d - 3d = 15*40

    2d = 600

    d = 300 kilometers.


ANSWER.  The distance from the epicenter of the earthquake to the station is 300 kilometers.

Solved.

-----------------

From my post, lean on how to write, to solve and to use a "time" equation.

To see many other similar solved problems, look into the lessons
    - Earthquake waves
    - Had a car move faster it would arrive sooner
    - How far do you live from school?
in this site.

Also, you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-I in this site
    ALGEBRA-I - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK.

The referred lessons are the part of this textbook under the section "Word problems", the topic "Travel and Distance problems".

Save the link to this online textbook together with its description

Free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-I
https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/quadratic/lessons/ALGEBRA-I-YOUR-ONLINE-TEXTBOOK.lesson

to your archive and use it when it is needed.

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