Sample Questions
Course : Seismic Refraction Techniques (GPH 604)
1- In refraction methods; define what is the intercept time (ti ) and describe how it can
be used in estimating depths to interfaces.
2- In a refraction survey the X-T plot reflects two segments with slopes 0.00125 and
0.000625 what are the velocities of the bedrock and the overburden layer.
3- What does Fermat's principal explain?
4- In an E-W reverse refraction survey the estimated intercept times were 12.5 ms at
the East end while it was 13.2 ms at the West end, can you estimate the apparent dip
and its direction, knowing that the profile length was 180 meters, assuming constant
velocity of the top layer, and flat interface.
5- In a refraction survey the velocity of the soil was found to be 480 m/s while the
velocity of the bedrock was 2000 m/s; if the intercept time was 24 ms; what is the
depth to the refracting interface.
6- When using refraction methods to map the subsurface interfaces the profile length
should be at least four to five times the depth of investigation; why?
7- Hook’s law describes the relation between
a. The seismic velocity and the elastic constant
b. The seismic energy and the distance of propagation
c. The strain and the applied stress
d. Vp/Vs and Poisson’s ratio
8- Hook’s law does not apply for large stresses because
a. Large stresses requires a lot of energy
b. Of attaining plastic and brittle limits
c. Of the elasticity of the materials under stress
d. Any of the above
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9- If the frequency of the seismic energy is 60 HZ and the velocity of the medium is
2400 m/s then the prevailing wavelength will be:
a. 140 meter
b. 240 meter
c. 45 meter
d. 40 meter
10- As V2/V1 increases the critical angle of incidence
a) decreases .
b) increases
c) remains unchanged.
d) decreases for short profiles and increases for long ones.
11- - The less compressible a material is,
a. The .greater its p-wave velocity
b. The less resistant a material it to shear,
c. The slower its shear wave velocity
d. The difficult to investigate it seismically.
12- Velocity –Density paradox :
a. Explained by the relation between the seismic velocity and density
b. Explained by the relation between the seismic velocity and elastic constants
c. Explained by the density – elasticity relationship
d. Describes how velocity increased with density.
13- A seismic wave front is defined as:
a. A surface of constant phase
b. A surface of constant velocity
c. A surface of constant frequency
d. A surface of constant wavelength.
14- Please select two or more of the following topics and discuss briefly in maximum
two pages/ no more than 500 words how the seismic refraction application help in .
a. Stratigraphic mapping
b. Estimating bedrock depth & overburden thickness
c. Mining mineral deposits
d. Determining rippability parameters
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e. Investigating pipeline routes
f. Locating geological structures
g. Evaluating sand & gravel deposits
h. Locating sinkholes
i. Investigating landfills and archaeological sites
j. Assessing subsurface geological hazards
k. Defining aquifer geometry & estimating depth to water table
l. Exploring for fossil fuel.
15- The foundation of the refraction methods is Snell’s law; Explain.
16- Define the cross-over distance and show how it can be used to estimate the depth to
the interface (use the two layer model)
17- Explain the problem of the hidden layer and how it can affect the interpretation
results.
18- In your openion, is it possible to have a VP/Vs. ratio of less than 1 in near surface
seismic studies (using seismic refraction and MASW methods)? Please, justify your
answer.
19- In a seismic refraction survey, some geophones showed polarity inversion for some
shots; for the rest, the situation is normal. What could be the reason for that? is it an
equipment problem?
20- .A refraction seismic survey is conducted in a region with a planar, dipping layer,
with γ = 1°. The velocity in layer 1 is 400 m/s, and the velocity of the second layer is
2000 m/s. Which of the following pairs of up and down dip velocities could be
observed:
a) vu = 2105 m/s , vd = 1910 m/s
b) vu = 1910 m/s , vd = 2105 m/s
c) vu = 2000 m/s , vd = 1900 m/s
d) vu = 1900 m/s , vd = 2000 m/s
21- Suppose a seismic refraction survey was conducted over an area with 3 horizontal
layers (ie 2 interfaces). Which of the following scenarios would produce first arrivals at
surface geophones from all three layers? (Top layer: seismic velocity v1, middle layer:
seismic velocity v2, lower layer: seismic velocity v3)
a. V1 = 400 m/s, v2 = 2000 m/s, v3 = 1500 m/s
b. V1 = 1500 m/s, v2 = 2000 m/s, v3 = 400 m/s
c. V1 = 2000 m/s, v2 = 1500 m/s, v3 = 400 m/s
d. V1 = 400 m/s, v2 = 1500 m/s, v3 = 2000 m/s
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22- You have a geologic model consisting of 3 layers with seismic velocities v1, v2, v3,
and thicknesses h1, h2, and h3, where h3 ∞
a. Describe a scenario where second layer may not be detected using refraction
seismic.
b. Describe a scenario where second layer may not be detected using reflection
seismic.
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