A P ray leaves a shallow source and travels down through three horizontal

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Earth, Climate & Energy Physics · Seismology, tectonics and geodynamics · Seismology, tectonics and geodynamics

The Solid Earth, Ch Rays and travel times: from arrivals to a layered planet

Problem

A P ray leaves a shallow source and travels down through three horizontal, welded layers of a continental crust. Layer 1 has speed

v_1 = 2.0\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}

and thickness

h_1 = 1.0\,\mathrm{km}

, layer 2 has

v_2 = 3.0\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}

and

h_2 = 1.5\,\mathrm{km}

, and layer 3 has

v_3 = 4.5\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}

and

h_3 = 2.0\,\mathrm{km}

. The ray leaves the source at

25^\circ

from the vertical. ((a)) Find the angle of incidence the ray makes with the vertical in layers 2 and 3. ((b)) Find the total horizontal distance travelled and the total travel time from the source to the base of layer 3.

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