Spreadsheets for Understanding Seismic Energy Partitioning Equations

Spreadsheets have come a long way and have become a universal computational tool and a powerful platform for performing scientific and engineering calculations. Their inherent strength lies in integrated storage and manipulation of data, together with a wide range of calculations, charting, and graphics presentation capabilities. These facilities make them ideal tools for prototyping mathematical equations and algorithms that can be adapted for instructional purposes to improve the quality of engineering education. This paper presents a set of spreadsheets that help in understanding the mathematical details behind the Zoeppritz equations and their various approximations that describe the partitioning of seismic wave energy at a planar interface between two homogeneous isotropic and elastic layers of rock. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.