Chapter 3: Earthquakes Flashcards
As seen in the figure, to describe the rocks that are displaced across faults, geologists use [blank] terminology.
A) construction
B) mining
C) painting
D) aerospace
E) forestry
B) mining
In which of the following faults does the hanging-wall move down relative to the footwall?
A) Left-lateral strike-slip fault
B) Right-lateral strike-slip fault
C) Normal dip-slip fault
D) Reverse dip-slip fault
E) Blind fault
C) normal dip-slip fault
The fault in the figure is caused by [blank] stress.
A) shearing
B) compressional
C) bending
D) torsional
E) tensional
A) shearing
Which stage of the earthquake cycle may occur only hours or days prior to the next large earthquake but may not always occur?
A) Accumulation of elastic strain
B) Mainshock
C) Aftershock
D) Foreshock
E) Fault slip
D) foreshock
When reporting to the public where the earthquake originated, new reports give the location of the [blank].
A) focus
B) hypocenter
C) epicenter
D) fault
E) aftershocks
C) epicenter
Which is not a type of seismic wave?
A) P wave
B) Love wave
C) S wave
D) Ground wave
E) Surface wave
D) ground wave
Which of the following statements is false about P waves?
A) P waves cause the most of the damage at the epicenter
B) P waves are the fastest of the waves
C) P waves can move through solids, liquids, or gasses
D) P waves move with a push/pull motion
E) All of the above statements about P waves are true
A) P waves cause most of the damage at the epicenter
Slow damage to roads, sidewalks, building foundations, and other structures such as that shown in the figure is a result of a process called
A) Ground shrinking
B) Instantaneous shaking
C) None of the answers are correct
D) Fault scarping
E) Tectonic creep
E) tectonic creep
In which situation would you expect to experience the most shaking from an earthquake?
a)Located 1 mile from epicenter, on hard Igneous rock, not on the path of greatest rupture, M 4.5
b)Located 4 miles from epicenter, on mud, not on the path of greatest rupture, M 6.5
c)Located 3.5 miles from epicenter, on hard Igneous rock, on the path of greatest rupture, M 6.5
d)Located 4 miles from epicenter, on mud, on the path of greatest rupture, M 6.5
e)Located 4 miles from epicenter, on mud, on the path of greatest rupture, M 3.5
D) Located 4 miles from epicenter, on mud, on the path of greatest rupture, M 6.5
The most appropriate scale to use to compare earthquakes around the world is the
A) Richter scale.
B) Mercalli Intensity scale.
C) moment magnitude scale.
D) attenuation scale.
E) Fujita scale.
C) moment magnitude scale
How is the intensity for an area determined on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale?
A) People’s perception of shaking and extent of damage
B) Measurement through seismograph
C) Distance from the epicenter.
D) Amplitude of the waves
E) Derived from the Richter scale value
A) people’s perception of shaking and extend of damage around them
Although further from the epicenter than other areas, the darker orange areas in the figure experienced the most severe shaking from the Loma Prieta Earthquake because
A) they are closer to the fault
B) buildings were weaker there
C) shaking increases as you move away from the epicenter
D) most people in the area live there
E) the bay shore consists of natural deposits of mud and bay fill
E) the bay shore consists of natural deposits of mud and bayfill
To determine the epicenter of an earthquake, scientists
A) locate the area where the most damage is centered
B) determine where the highest magnitude was recorded
C) measure where the wave frequencies were the greatest
D) find the intersection of P and S arrival time data from three seismographs at different locations
E) find the strongest relationship between ground shaking and magnitude
D) find the intersection of P and S arrival time data from three seismographs at different locations
The greatest earthquakes with magnitudes over 9 are usually associated with
A) transform faults
B) blind faults
C) subduction zones
D) divergent zones
E) interplate earthquakes
C) subduction zones
What is a major problem with intraplate earthquakes?
A) They generally result in the highest magnitude of earthquakes
B) There is generally a lack of preparedness because they occur less often
C) They occur more often than any other type of earthquake
D) They are events called megathrust earthquakes
e)There are no intraplate earthquakes; earthquakes only occur at plate boundaries
D) they are events called megathrust earthquakes
Which is not a secondary effect of earthquakes?
A) tsunamis
B) ground liquefaction
C) landslides
D) disease
E) ground shaking
E) ground shaking
Why was the 1994 Northridge earthquake (M 6.7) in California 20 times as costly as the 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska earthquake (M 9.2)?
A) Things cost more in California
B) Building codes more stringent in Alaska
C) 9.2 in 1964 was not as intense as a 9.2 would be in 1994
D) Many more human-made structures in the area
e)The California earthquake was closer to water
D) many more human-made structures in the area
Why is fire such a major hazard linked with earthquakes?
A) Firefighting equipment may be damaged
B) All of these are reasons why fires are a major hazard
C) Streets may be blocked
D) Bridges may be damaged or destroyed
E) W Water main may be broken
B) all of these are reasons why fires are a major hazard
What is not a natural service function of earthquakes?
A) Exposure of economically valuable mineral resources
B) Create scenic landforms
C) Help prevent future larger earthquakes
D) Destroy natural underground dams that slow or redirect flows
E) Create preferential paths for surface water flow
D) destroy natural underground dams that slow or redirect flows
Human activity can cause earthquakes through all these ways except
A) underground testing of nuclear weapons.
B) building over fault lines.
C) injecting fluids into Earth.
D) building dams.
E) Disposal of chemical weapon waste into Earth.
B) building over fault lines
What is not a major goal of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program?
A) Predict effects of earthquakes.
B) Predict time and place of earthquakes.
C) Determine earthquake potential.
D) Apply research results.
E) Develop an understanding of the earthquake source.
B) predict time and place of earthquakes
If predictions of earthquakes were possible, the predictions would be based on all except
A) unusual animal behavior
B) seismic gaps along faults
C) patterns and frequency of earthquakes
D) deformation of the ground surface
E) geophysical and geochemical changes in Earth
A) unusual animal behavior
How can we adjust to an earthquake hazard?
A) Make sure there are adequate insurance and relief measures available.
B) Locate critical facilities in safe locations.
C) All of these are ways to adjust to an earthquake hazard.
D) Construct earthquake-resistant structures.
E) Educate the public.
C) all of these are ways to adjust to an earthquake hazard
