Earthquakes

Question 1

What is an earthquake

Answer 1

Vibrations of the earths crust caused by movement at plate boundaries and major fault lines.

Question 2

Where do the most severe earthquakes usually occur

Answer 2

Conservative and destructive plate boundaries, but they can also occur at all 4 major plate boundaries.

Question 3

How does the shock waves create an earthquake

Answer 3

An earthquake is when the ground shakes due to sudden plate movement. Produces land shockwaves (seismic waves) that travel out from the centre of the crust .

Question 4

What is the focus how does it cause seismic waves

Answer 4

The pint where the earthquake starts underground. The waves spread out from here. Near the focus waves are stronger. These waves are seismic waves

Question 5

What is the epicentre

Answer 5

The point on the earths surface immediately above the focus.

Question 6

How can you measure an earthquake

Answer 6

The Richter scale

Question 7

What is the Richter scale

Answer 7

The scale to measure the magnitude of a tremor using a seismograph.

Question 8

How much more power does each number have than the previous

Answer 8

30x more

Question 9

Biggest earthquake ever recorded

Answer 9

9.5

Question 10

How would the numbers 1-10 on the Richter scale affect you

Answer 10

1. Wouldn’t notice.
2. 30x more energy.
   5.windows break.
3. Damages building.
4. Major catastrophe.

Question 11

Short term impacts of earthquakes

Answer 11

Roads destroyed.
Buildings collapse.
Debris causes injuries.
Water/gas mains burst.
Electricity cut off

Question 12

Long term impacts of earthquakes

Answer 12

Disease.
Mental trauma.
People loose livelihood.
Tsunamis.
Landslides.

Question 13

Name some factors which affect earthquake damage

Answer 13

Magnitude of the earthquake.
Physical landscape.
Time of day.
Building design and construction.
Emergency service response.
GDP (gross domestic product) (how rich the country is ).
Education