Final answer:
Earthquake P-waves most resemble A) sound waves because they are longitudinal, which compress and expand the ground in the direction of the wave and can move through all types of mediums. Unlike light or water waves, P-waves propagate analogously to sound waves.
Step-by-step explanation:
Earthquake P-waves are most like (A) sound waves because they are longitudinal. P-waves (longitudinal) and S-waves (transverse) are different types of seismic waves that occur during an earthquake. While P-waves are longitudinal and compress and expand the ground in the direction of the wave, S-waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the wave. P- waves resemble sound waves in a solid medium where both longitudinal and transverse components exist.
However, P-waves vibrate parallel to the direction of travel, much like sound waves in air or water while S-waves vibrate perpendicularly.
Unlike light waves which are transverse or water waves that have crests and troughs, P-waves behave like sound waves changing the volume (compression and expansion) of the medium they pass through. They propagate in the same direction as their motion and can move through solid, liquid, and gaseous mediums, much like sound waves.
The speed of these waves relies on the rigidity of the medium. During earthquakes, the speed of P-waves in granite or other solid and rigid materials is significantly higher than the speed of S-waves.
Learn more about Seismic Waves