2006-12-15 09:37:27 · 4 answers · asked by GotanIdea? 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
I would have thought that one would tell you the distance from it. So imagine one circle.
Two would be like drawing two circles, this usually means that the two circles will intersect in two places, so I guess that the epicenter could be in either of those two places.
But if you got three readings then when you draw the three circles of the appropriate size then there can only be one place where the three circles all intersect each other together, so you would have the definite epicenter
I would imagine that this is the answer you are looking for, assuming that a seismometer gives distance but not direction.
2006-12-15 09:58:28 · answer #1 · answered by MARTIN B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have only two seismometers then you will come up with two answers, and only one of them will be the earthquake. You need at least three station, hence the term "triangulation".
2006-12-16 11:31:06 · answer #2 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just noticed this is about the 4th question you posted on here about earthquakes. Why don't you actually read your course material to answer the questions instead of taking the 'easy' way out?
2006-12-15 14:14:18 · answer #3 · answered by TransparentEarth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True. You really need three for triangulation to work to tell you the epicenter.
2006-12-15 09:43:37 · answer #4 · answered by CRF 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋