Which seismic wave is a transverse body wave that shakes the ground back and forth perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation and cannot travel through liquids?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Secondary or S-waves are transverse body waves that cause ground particles to oscillate perpendicularly to the direction of energy propagation while failing to propagate through fluids. Primary or P-waves are longitudinal compressional waves that travel through both solid and liquid layers of the Earth's interior. The inability of S-waves to travel through the outer core provided primary geophysical evidence that Earth possesses a liquid metallic core.