Activity 9C (BC‐7)                                      Name:______________________ 

Date:____________________ 
Grade 6 Science               
Earth’s Crust Unit 
 
Lab #3: Waiting for the Waves 
 
______________________: To learn how arrival times for primary and secondary waves 
help determine the distance to an earthquake. 
 
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* “Time travel graph for P and S Waves” pg. 269 “BC Science 7” textbook. 
* Ruler. 
* “Arrival Times” data table (below).  
 
___________________________: 
1. Use the “Time Travel Graph for P and S Waves” on pg.269 in your Science 7 
textbook to determine the difference in arrival times for primary and 
secondary waves.  
2. Measure the two lines on the graph at the epicentre distances in the table. 
Use your ruler to help keep place. Record the difference in arrival times in 
the table called “Arrival Times” below for each Wepicentre distance. 
 
__________________________: 
 
Epicentre Distance (km)  Differences in Arrival Time 
1500  2 min, 50 sec. 
2250   
2750   
3000   
4000   
7000   
9000   
 
______________________: 
1. What happens to the difference in arrival times as the distance from an 
earthquake increases? 
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TURN OVER  
2. Why do seismologists measure arrival time differences? 
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3. If you were watching a seismogram and the arrival time between the P and S 
waves was less than 10 seconds, what would you do? 

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_________________________: (Make sure to use the 5 helpers from your “lab example” in 
your duo tang folder.) 
 
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DUE: Wed. Feb 3rd 2010