Earthquakes Flashcards
1
Q
What are Earthquakes?
A
Internal forces (inside the Earth) tensions and pressures pull apart and press together the Earth’s crust
2
Q
What is a Fault line?
A
Zone of weakness along the edge of 2 plates
3
Q
How do earthquakes happen?
A
Rocks slip along the fault, Energy is released = ground shaking
4
Q
What are the movements of earthquakes?
A
Either sideways or up and down
5
Q
What is the Epicentre?
A
The point on the Earth above the Focus of the earthquake
6
Q
What is the Focus?
A
The point of origin of the earthquake
7
Q
What can you do to protect against earthquakes?
A
- Better building techniques
* Warning systems for tsunamis
8
Q
4 bonus facts about earthquakes:
A
- +/- million earthquakes a year
- Measured on the Richter Scale; 2 is small, 7 is severe, 10 is massive
- Most major earthquakes happen in the Ring of Fire located in the Pacific Ocean
- Shaking doesn’t kill, crumbling buildings, mudslides, tsunamis and disease do
