What is the amplitude of the waves?

What is the amplitude for p waves?

• Answer:

  Amplitude of a wave refers to its maximum value reached. Which is not just a simple dimension such as mm. For example the amplitude of a radio wave may be measured in milli Volts. Waves usually involve the interaction of two variables. With radio waves, these are the electric and the magnetic vectors. With a sound wave, the components are pressure and velocity; of the air particles in that case. With a sea wave, the height and the wavelength are the variables, that are inter-related. In the case of P waves (Primary or pressure waves) The actual pressure reached is seldom measured. Mainly because the medium (rock) is essentially incompressible and the size change would be minute. The velocity of the P waves is the velocity of sound in that medium, typically up to five times the speed of sound in air. It is the S waves that have substantial deflection on the surface.