Shear waves reach the surface shortly after the P waves and are given the name S or Secondary waves. S waves travel at about half the speed of P waves. They move objects in their paths in an up and down motion in the direction that the wave is moving.
S waves can only move through solids and because of this can travel only through the crust and mantle of the Earth. When S waves strike the outer core, which is made of liquid iron and nickel, the waves stop.
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