Earthquakes Flashcards
What is an earthquake?
A violent shaking of the Earth’s crust, caused by the sudden release of enormous stresses
What is the focus?
The point at which the snapping occurs
What is the epicentre?
The point on the ground surface, directly above the focus. The greatest damage normally occurs here
Why did the Haiti earthquake happen?
Haiti is situated on a conservative (destructive) boundary in between the North American and Caribbean plates.
What are seismic waves?
An elastic wave in the earth produced by an earthquake or other means
How many people died in the Haiti earthquake?
170,000
How many people were injured?
3 million
How much % of the buildings collapsed?
70%
How much did the land cost to repair?
$8 billion
How much % of the infrastructure was destroyed?
60%
What can you have to try and predict an earthquake?
Laser beams to detect plate movement, seismometer to pick up vibrations, radon gas which escapes from the Earth’s cracks in the event of an earthquake
How do people prepare for an earthquake?
High rise buildings with flexible steel frames, earthquake survival kits, structural health checks on peoples’ homes, drills, informing people where their closest evacuation station is and teaching in school
What is the main drill schools use to teach children about earthquake safety?
Drop, cover, hold
