Chapter 12 Questions Flashcards
Where do earthquakes generally occur?
At or near tectonic plate boundaries
What scale more accurately measures the magnitude of large earthquakes?
Moment magnitude scale
How do scientist locate the epicenter of an earthquake?
analyze the arrival times of the P waves and S waves
What happens to tsunamis as they move toward shore?
The low waves increase in height
What do you do if you are indoors during an earthquake?
Protect yourself from falling debris by standing in a doorway or crouching under a desk or a table. Stay away from windows, heavy furniture, and other objects that might topple over.
What is another name for P waves?
Primary or Compression Waves
Why do earthquakes usually occurs at plate boundaries?
There the stress on the rock is greatest
What causes tsunamis ?
Volcanic Eruptions
Through what type of materials do P waves travel fastest?
The more rigid
What are the fastest body waves?
P waves
What can affect how a building responds to seismic waves?
The type of ground beneath the building
What is the difference between the focus and the epicenter of an earthquake?
The focus is what is within the Earth along the fault line if the earthquakes first motion and the epicenter is a point on Earth’s surface above its starting point or focus.
During an earthquake, what is likely to happen to a building on loose soil and rock?
They will experience exaggerated motion and sway violently.
Where does the first motion of an earthquake occur ?
Along a fault line
Describe the process of elastic rebound.
When the rock fractures, it separates at the weakest point and snaps back, or rebounds, to its original shape, which causes an earthquake.
