Earthquake Vocab Flashcards
Earthquake
the shaking that results from movement beneath earths surface
stress
a force that acts on rock to change its shape or volume. because stress is a force it adds energy to the rock
fault
a break or crack in the earths lithosphere along which rocks move
focus
the point beneath earths surface where rock breaks under stress and causes earthqaukes
tsunami
a giant wave usally caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor
shearing
stress that pushes masses of rock in opposite directions in a sideways movement
volcano
a weak spot in the crust where magma has to come to the surface
hot spot
an area where magma from deep within the mantle melts through the crust above it
silica
a material found in magma that is formed from the elements oxygen and silicon
pyroclastic flow
the expulsion of ash, cinders, bombs, and gasses during an explosive volcanic eruption.
viscosity
a liquids resistance to flowing
caldera
the large hole at the top of a volcano formed when the roof of a volcano’s magma chamber collapses
