 Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-year-2-of-the-earth-sciences-geology-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2022/paper-1/6/b/iii/solution

The required transmitted P wave angle would satisfy

sin i_{P 2} = \frac{3500}{1500} sin 3 0^{\circ} = \frac{7}{6} > 1.

Therefore there is no real transmitted P-ray angle. The incidence exceeds the P critical angle

arcsin (1500/3500) = 25.3 8^{\circ}

; the transmitted P contribution is evanescent away from the interface rather than a propagating body ray. Reporting

9 0^{\circ}

would describe critical incidence, not the stated

3 0^{\circ}

incidence.

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