Describe how readings from two seismic stations, M and N, can be used to help find the position of an earthquake - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2016 - Paper 1

To locate the position of an earthquake using readings from two seismic stations, scientists apply the method of triangulation. Each station, M and N, records the time it takes for seismic waves to reach it after the earthquake occurs. By calculating the distance from each station to the epicenter based on the time delay and the speed of seismic waves, the distance can be determined using the formula:

$$Distance = Speed imes Time$$

Once the distances from both M and N are known, circles with radii corresponding to these distances can be drawn on a map centered at each station. The point where the two circles intersect represents the possible location of the earthquake epicenter.