Earthquake vocabulary

Question 1

Vibrations produced when rocks break along a fault. The intensity of an earthquake is measured with the Richter Scale.

Answer 1

Earthquake

Question 2

Point on earth’s surface directly above an earthquake’s focus

Answer 2

Epicenter

Question 3

Surface along which rocks move when they pass their elastic limit and break.

Answer 3

Fault

Question 4

In an earthquake the point below Earth’s surface where energy is released in the form of seismic waves.

Answer 4

Focus

Question 5

Occurs when wet soil acts more like a liquid during an earthquake.

Answer 5

Liquefaction

Question 6

Measure of the energy released during an earthquake.

Answer 6

Magnitude

Question 7

Break in rock caused by tension forces, where rock above the fault surface moves down relative to the rock below the fault surface.

Answer 7

Normal Fault

Question 8

Seismic wave that moves particles back and forth in the same direction that the wave travels.

Answer 8

Primary Wave

Question 9

Break in rock caused by compressive forces where rock above the fault surface moves upward relative to the rock below the fault surface.

Answer 9

Reverse Fault

Question 10

Seismic Wave that moves rock particles at right angles to the direction of the wave.

Answer 10

Secondary Wave

Question 11

Wave generated by an earthquake.

Answer 11

Seismic Wave

Question 12

Instrument used to register earthquake waves and record the time that each arrived.

Answer 12

Seismograph

Question 13

Break in rock caused by shear forces, where rocks move past each other without much vertical movement.

Answer 13

Strike-Slip Fault

Question 14

Seismic wave that moves rock particles up and down in a backward rolling motion and side to side in a swaying motion.

Answer 14

Surface Wave

Question 15

A long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance.

Answer 15

Tsunami