Why surface waves cause the greatest damage during an earthquake?

1 ANSWERS

1. Guest8965
   

   Body waves have small amplitudes and fairly high frequencies, much faster than the resonant frequency of most buildings, so the buildings tend to vibrate but remain more or less in one place. Surface waves have both higher amplitudes and lower frequencies than body waves, and these low frequencies often match the resonant frequencies of man-made structures. The result is both greater ground motion (from the greater amplitude) from surface waves and the possibility of buildings shaking themselves apart if the waves match the buildings' resonant frequencies.

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