How Fast Is Earthquake S-Wave?

S-waves — secondary or shear waves from earthquakes — travel at 3,500 m/s through Earth's crust. They cause most earthquake damage. Crucially, they cannot pass through liquid, which is precisely how seismologists discovered Earth has a molten outer core.

S-waves were named for being the 'secondary' arrivals on seismograms — they arrive after the faster P-waves at any seismic station.

• Mach 10
• Can't travel through liquid — revealing Earth's core