Earthquakes - Topic 1 Flashcards
What is an ‘Earthquake’?
A sudden violent movement of the ground, which is caused by pressure being released after two plates, oceanic and continental, collide.
How is the pressure caused in an Earthquake?
By plate movement
Explain why earthquakes occur at destructive plate margins
Point 1: Because the two plates, Oceanic and Continental, collide
Point 2: The Oceanic plate is denser than the continental plate, so it sinks below it
Point 3: The Oceanic plate sinking below the Continental plate is known as subduction
Point 4: Volcanoes cannot take place at a destructive plate margin
Explain why earthquakes do not always cause the most deaths
Population density may be low so not many people in the danger area
Some areas may just be poor so buildings just collapse killing only a few people