Earthquakes Flashcards
What are earthquakes?
They are the sudden shaking of the Earths crust.
What are seismic waves?
They are the shockwaves that spread outwards in all directions
What is the fault?
It is when moving plates get stuck along faults. Energy builds up until the plates slip
What is the focus?
It is the point underground where the plates first slip suddenly
What are shockwaves?
These are the vibrations that spread outwards from the focus
What is the epicentre?
This is the point on the earths surface directly above the focus
How are earthquakes formed?
Earthquakes are the result of sudden movement along faults within the Earth. The movement releases stored-up ‘elastic strain’ energy in the form of seismic waves, which spread through the Earth and cause the ground surface to shake
