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Geophysics & Seismological Surveys (Geology, Geophysics & Marine Sciences) Solved Questions & Notes (2026) - Apex Rankers

Earth, Geological & Marine Sciences > Geology, Geophysics & Marine Sciences > Geophysics & Seismological Surveys

100 Total Questions
~150 mins Read Time
1 Subject Areas
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Q. 1 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
Which seismic wave is a longitudinal compressional body wave that travels fastest through solids and liquids?
A
Love wave
B
S-wave (Secondary wave)
C
P-wave (Primary wave)
✓ Correct
D
Rayleigh wave
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
P-waves compress and dilate rock in the direction of propagation at highest velocity.
Q. 2 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
S-waves (Shear waves) cannot propagate through which Earth layer, proving it is liquid?
A
Lower Mantle
B
Crust
C
Outer Core
✓ Correct
D
Inner Core
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Liquids lack shear rigidity (shear modulus = 0), completely stopping S-wave transmission.
Q. 3 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
The point on the Earth's surface directly vertically above the earthquake hypocenter (focus) is the:
A
Anticline
B
Epicenter
✓ Correct
C
Scarp
D
Fault trace
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The epicenter experiences the earliest and often most intense seismic energy arrival.
Q. 4 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: HARD (1 Mark)
In seismic reflection exploration, acoustic impedance (Z) is calculated as:
A
Velocity divided by density
B
Rock density (ρ) multiplied by seismic wave velocity (V)
✓ Correct
C
Frequency times wavelength
D
Depth times gravity
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reflections occur at boundaries with contrasts in acoustic impedance (Z = ρ * V).
Q. 5 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
Electrical resistivity surveying measures subsurface resistance to injected direct electric currents to detect:
A
Atmospheric wind
B
Groundwater aquifers and mineral veins
✓ Correct
C
Earthquake magnitude
D
Magnetic polarity
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Water-saturated porous sediments exhibit lower resistivity than dry resistive bedrock.
Q. 6 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
In professional practice: Which seismic wave is a longitudinal compressional body wave that travels fastest through solids and liquids?
A
Rayleigh wave
B
Love wave
C
P-wave (Primary wave)
✓ Correct
D
S-wave (Secondary wave)
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
P-waves compress and dilate rock in the direction of propagation at highest velocity.
Q. 7 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
In professional practice: S-waves (Shear waves) cannot propagate through which Earth layer, proving it is liquid?
A
Lower Mantle
B
Crust
C
Outer Core
✓ Correct
D
Inner Core
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Liquids lack shear rigidity (shear modulus = 0), completely stopping S-wave transmission.
Q. 8 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
In professional practice: The point on the Earth's surface directly vertically above the earthquake hypocenter (focus) is the:
A
Epicenter
✓ Correct
B
Scarp
C
Fault trace
D
Anticline
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The epicenter experiences the earliest and often most intense seismic energy arrival.
Q. 9 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: HARD (1 Mark)
In professional practice: In seismic reflection exploration, acoustic impedance (Z) is calculated as:
A
Rock density (ρ) multiplied by seismic wave velocity (V)
✓ Correct
B
Depth times gravity
C
Frequency times wavelength
D
Velocity divided by density
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reflections occur at boundaries with contrasts in acoustic impedance (Z = ρ * V).
Q. 10 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
In professional practice: Electrical resistivity surveying measures subsurface resistance to injected direct electric currents to detect:
A
Magnetic polarity
B
Atmospheric wind
C
Groundwater aquifers and mineral veins
✓ Correct
D
Earthquake magnitude
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Water-saturated porous sediments exhibit lower resistivity than dry resistive bedrock.
Q. 11 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
According to standard examination standards: Which seismic wave is a longitudinal compressional body wave that travels fastest through solids and liquids?
A
S-wave (Secondary wave)
B
P-wave (Primary wave)
✓ Correct
C
Love wave
D
Rayleigh wave
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
P-waves compress and dilate rock in the direction of propagation at highest velocity.
Q. 12 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
According to standard examination standards: S-waves (Shear waves) cannot propagate through which Earth layer, proving it is liquid?
A
Crust
B
Outer Core
✓ Correct
C
Inner Core
D
Lower Mantle
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Liquids lack shear rigidity (shear modulus = 0), completely stopping S-wave transmission.
Q. 13 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
According to standard examination standards: The point on the Earth's surface directly vertically above the earthquake hypocenter (focus) is the:
A
Anticline
B
Fault trace
C
Epicenter
✓ Correct
D
Scarp
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The epicenter experiences the earliest and often most intense seismic energy arrival.
Q. 14 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: HARD (1 Mark)
According to standard examination standards: In seismic reflection exploration, acoustic impedance (Z) is calculated as:
A
Velocity divided by density
B
Frequency times wavelength
C
Depth times gravity
D
Rock density (ρ) multiplied by seismic wave velocity (V)
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reflections occur at boundaries with contrasts in acoustic impedance (Z = ρ * V).
Q. 15 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
According to standard examination standards: Electrical resistivity surveying measures subsurface resistance to injected direct electric currents to detect:
A
Magnetic polarity
B
Groundwater aquifers and mineral veins
✓ Correct
C
Atmospheric wind
D
Earthquake magnitude
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Water-saturated porous sediments exhibit lower resistivity than dry resistive bedrock.
Q. 16 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
From an applied perspective: Which seismic wave is a longitudinal compressional body wave that travels fastest through solids and liquids?
A
P-wave (Primary wave)
✓ Correct
B
Love wave
C
Rayleigh wave
D
S-wave (Secondary wave)
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
P-waves compress and dilate rock in the direction of propagation at highest velocity.
Q. 17 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
From an applied perspective: S-waves (Shear waves) cannot propagate through which Earth layer, proving it is liquid?
A
Crust
B
Inner Core
C
Lower Mantle
D
Outer Core
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Liquids lack shear rigidity (shear modulus = 0), completely stopping S-wave transmission.
Q. 18 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
From an applied perspective: The point on the Earth's surface directly vertically above the earthquake hypocenter (focus) is the:
A
Fault trace
B
Epicenter
✓ Correct
C
Scarp
D
Anticline
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The epicenter experiences the earliest and often most intense seismic energy arrival.
Q. 19 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: HARD (1 Mark)
From an applied perspective: In seismic reflection exploration, acoustic impedance (Z) is calculated as:
A
Rock density (ρ) multiplied by seismic wave velocity (V)
✓ Correct
B
Velocity divided by density
C
Frequency times wavelength
D
Depth times gravity
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reflections occur at boundaries with contrasts in acoustic impedance (Z = ρ * V).
Q. 20 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
From an applied perspective: Electrical resistivity surveying measures subsurface resistance to injected direct electric currents to detect:
A
Earthquake magnitude
B
Atmospheric wind
C
Magnetic polarity
D
Groundwater aquifers and mineral veins
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Water-saturated porous sediments exhibit lower resistivity than dry resistive bedrock.
Q. 21 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
Under standard operational protocols: Which seismic wave is a longitudinal compressional body wave that travels fastest through solids and liquids?
A
Love wave
B
Rayleigh wave
C
P-wave (Primary wave)
✓ Correct
D
S-wave (Secondary wave)
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
P-waves compress and dilate rock in the direction of propagation at highest velocity.
Q. 22 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
Under standard operational protocols: S-waves (Shear waves) cannot propagate through which Earth layer, proving it is liquid?
A
Crust
B
Inner Core
C
Lower Mantle
D
Outer Core
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Liquids lack shear rigidity (shear modulus = 0), completely stopping S-wave transmission.
Q. 23 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: EASY (1 Mark)
Under standard operational protocols: The point on the Earth's surface directly vertically above the earthquake hypocenter (focus) is the:
A
Anticline
B
Epicenter
✓ Correct
C
Scarp
D
Fault trace
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The epicenter experiences the earliest and often most intense seismic energy arrival.
Q. 24 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: HARD (1 Mark)
Under standard operational protocols: In seismic reflection exploration, acoustic impedance (Z) is calculated as:
A
Depth times gravity
B
Rock density (ρ) multiplied by seismic wave velocity (V)
✓ Correct
C
Velocity divided by density
D
Frequency times wavelength
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reflections occur at boundaries with contrasts in acoustic impedance (Z = ρ * V).
Q. 25 MULTIPLE_CHOICE
Difficulty: MEDIUM (1 Mark)
Under standard operational protocols: Electrical resistivity surveying measures subsurface resistance to injected direct electric currents to detect:
A
Atmospheric wind
B
Earthquake magnitude
C
Magnetic polarity
D
Groundwater aquifers and mineral veins
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Water-saturated porous sediments exhibit lower resistivity than dry resistive bedrock.
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