Chapter 3 Flashcards
What type of earth material is prone to liquefaction?
- artificial fill
- poorly consolidated sentiment
The second type of seismic wave to reach a recording station after an earthquake is called a ____ wave.
- shear
A seismometer must be installed in contact with ____.
- bedrock
P wave velocity depends upon the material through which the wave passes. Rank these materials from the fastest P velocity at the top
- 1) granite rock
- 2) packed sand
- 3) loose sand
- 4) water
- 5) air
To determine the _____ of an earthquake, seismologists use a nomograph, which compares the distance from the hypocentre and the amplitude of the seismic waves.
- magnitude
Seismic waves that pass through the interior of the planet are called ____ waves, whereas those that travel across the surface are called ____ waves.
- body
- surface
What phenomenon can cause liquefaction?
- earthquake vibrations
- rapid loading with excess weight
An earthquake occurs from the release of ____ when stress on a fault builds high enough for the rocks to fracture and move suddenly.
- energy
Which of the following describes a primary (P) wave?
- moves in a push-pull fashion
- the first to reach a recording station
- can travel through any material
Which of these correctly describe the nature of surface waves?
- slow moving
- low frequency
In which techtonic environment do deep earthquakes occur?
- subduction zones
What is a fault?
- a fracture in bedrock along which sliding has occurred.
The velocity of P waves depends on the ____ and ____ of the material through which they pass.
- density, compressibility
Because of their low frequency and slow speed, surface waves carry ____ amounts of energy away from the epicenter.
- large
What phenomenon can cause liquefaction?
- earthquake vibrations
- rapid loading with excdess weight
An earthquake of Richter magnitude 3 had a S wave amplitude of 1.2mm. What is the Richter magnitude of an earthquake with a S wave amplitude of 12mm, recorded at the same seismograph station?
- 4
The two types of body waves are ____ waves and _____ waves.
- primary
- secondary
The epicenter of an earthquake can be ____.
- underwater
Why does the difference in arrival times between P and S waves increase with epicentral distance?
- P waves travel faster than S waves
Place the four types of seismic waves in order of decreasing velocity, with the fastest at the top.
- P waves
- S waves
- Love waves
- Rayleigh waves
What might people have experiences during an earthquake of intensity IV?
- light sleepers woke up
In which techtonic environment do megathrust earthquakes occur?
- subduction zones
The acceleration due to gravity is ____, which is referred to as 1.0 g.
- 9.8 m/sec2
Because their motion is up and down and side to side, ____ waves are the type of body wave that can do severe damage to buildings.
- secondary
Love waves are a type of surface wave. They are similar to S waves in that they _____.
- cannot travel through fluids but can travel through solid material.
- travel with a shearing motion at right angles to their direction of advance.
Why was the 2010 Port-au-Prince earthquake so deadly?
- the general population and decision-makers lacked awareness of earthquake risk
- several buildings were poorly constructed
The rate of change in velocity of the ground as it is moved by seismic waves is called
- acceleration
What is the main cause of earthquakes?
- movements along faults
Which sections of the San Andreas fault have the highest seismic risk?
- locked zones
A ____ is a planar feature where the two rock blocks on either side move past each other.
- fault
If, during an earthquake, you feel like you’re being rocked in a boat at sea, you are most likely feeling the passage of ____ waves.
- Rayleigh
An earthquake occurring in which of the following geological environment will have the largest felt area?
- in the continental interior of North America.
Earthquakes are caused by a sudden fault rupture occuring
- at the hypocentre