Earthquakes Flashcards
1
Q
- natural vibrations caused by sudden movements in the Earth’s crust.
- natural hazards because the shaking of the Earth’s surface can cause city buildings to collapse and injuring and killing thousands of people.
A
Earthquake
2
Q
natural events that cause damage to property, people, and the environment.
A
Natural Hazards
3
Q
They study earthquakes to understand where they might happen and how people can be prepared and protected when an earthquake strikes.
A
Geologists
4
Q
the point at which the earthquake occurs below the Earth’s surface.
A
Focus
5
Q
the point directly above the focus on the Earth’s surface.
A
Epicentre
6
Q
- instruments geologists use to measure seismic waves.
A
Seismographs
7
Q
- use electromagnets which generate a voltage when there is an earthquake. This voltage is then transmitted to a computer display.
A
Seismographs
8
Q
strength or size of an earthquake.
A
Magnitude
9
Q
How do geologists find out where an earthquake has struck?
A
by looking at the P and S seismic waves.
10
Q
- a series of huge waves formed when the ocean floor moves suddenly in an earthquake.
- spread out very quickly across the ocean.
A
Tsunami
11
Q
Tsunamis spread as quickly as up to _____ km/hr.
A
800 km/hr
