Word Link

The word seismic dates from approximately 1858, and is based on the Greek word seismos which means earthquake.

Earthquakes are caused by the rapid release of stored energy in rocks. This energy is transferred through the Earth in the form of seismic waves.

Seismic waves are the vibrations that travel through the Earth as a result of rock slippage. The energy transferred by the wave can be small enough to be completely unnoticed, or it can be large enough to cause large buildings to collapse. Therefore, knowledge of seismic waves is important for a complete understanding of how earthquakes behave.

A car has been crushed by this collapsed building during an earthquake. Understanding seismic waves can help us design earthquake-resistant structures.