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Because you need three points to locate the source of a signal.
Think of a station as the center point of a circle. The station can detect the seismic wave, and the wave's properties can tell you the distance (P and S wave measurement) but not the direction it came from.
One station would give you a whole circle edge (circumference) to search for the wave's source, based on that distance (radius of the circle). But if you have a second station, you can measure the same wave there and get a second circle radius from that station. If you draw both of these circles on a map, with the stations at the circle centers, you will see that the two circles intersect at two points. This narrows the possible wave source to two places.
But if you have three stations, and draw a circle around that station based on the wave measurement, there will only be one point where all three circles intersect. That point is the source of the wave the stations detected.
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Why is three the minimum number of stations necessary to locate an epicenter?
Three seismic stations are needed to find the epicenter of an earthquake because all three radial circles made by the stations will only meet at one point. (example: if you only had to circles they would meet at two different points)At least 3
How do seismic stations record data on the other side of the planet?
The seismic stations record data on the other side of the planet by disturbing the timing of the electrical current. The horizontal magnetic directions are hit by a shock wave, allowing information about the area closer to the earthquake. The seismologists average their data and do final calculations. Within two weeks, they have their data.
How do you figure out the distance of an epicenter?
The distance of an epicenter from a seismograph station can determined by the time it takes for the seismic waves to reach each station. You need at least 3 seismic stations to record the event to determine this. The time taken for each seismic station to resisted the event will be different as they are different distances from the epicenter. The distance to the epicenter can then be calculated for each station and a epicenter can be determined by a triangulation from all stations that have registered the event.
What information do you need to completely describe where an earthquake started?
To locate the epicenter of an earthquake, you must have SEISMOGRAMS from at least three seismic stations.
What is a seismic safe structure List two things that would help a building become seismic safe?
A seismic safe building is a building that can stand up against earthquake vibrations. Two things that would help a building become seismic safe are: (not added yet)
What information would only two seismic stations give?
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What information could you get about an earthquakes location from only two seismic stations?
magnitude and distance betwean the stations, but not right left deviation, assuming the ground is the same.
How many seismic stations must report seismogram information in order to locate an earthquake?
At least three must do so to locate it unambiguously (two stations can narrow it down to one of two locations, which may be good enough if one of them is on a known fault line and the other is nowhere near one).
What is the minimum number of seismic stations needed to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?
The minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter is THREE.
What information could you get about an earthquake's location from only two seismic stations data?
magnitude and distance betwean the stations, but not right left deviation, assuming the ground is the same.
Can geologists use data from only two seismic stations to locate an earthquake's epicenter?
No, though they can narrow it down to two possible locations.
What is minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquakes epicenter?
The minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter is THREE.
What is the minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake epicenter?
The minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter is THREE.
What is the minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquakes epicenter?
The minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter is THREE.
Why is three the minimum number of stations necessary to locate an epicenter?
Three seismic stations are needed to find the epicenter of an earthquake because all three radial circles made by the stations will only meet at one point. (example: if you only had to circles they would meet at two different points)At least 3
What is the minimum number of seismic stations needed to determine the location of an earthquake and epicenter?
you need to have 3 seismic stations to triangulate the location of the earthquake and remember a earthquake can be from the inside of the earth but not necessarily at the epicenter because no epicenter is a straight line down.
What is the fewest number of seismic stations needed to locate an earthquakes epicenter?
2
