Earthquakes

Question 1

How and why earthquakes occur?

Answer 1

Earthquakes happen because of transform boundaries - tectonic plates slide past each other. It is a release of sudden energy because of the movement of layers and rocks in the crust (due to convection currents), which builds pressure.

Question 2

How can earthquakes be measured?

Answer 2

Richter scale and Mercalli scale.

Question 3

Richter scale?

Answer 3

Measures the strength/magnitude by measuring the seismic waves that cause the earthquake.

Question 4

Mercalli scale?

Answer 4

Measures the intensity of an earthquake’s damage based by observation.

Question 5

Measuring tool for richter scale?

Answer 5

Seismograph

Question 6

Measuring tool for mercalli scale?

Answer 6

Observation

Question 7

Scale for richter scale?

Answer 7

2.0 to 10.0 magnitude.

Question 8

Scale of mercalli scale?

Answer 8

I to XII - not felt to total destruction.

Question 9

Similarities on both scales?

Answer 9

Both measure earthquakes and depends on distance to the focus.