Week 1/2 quiz - seismicity and faults

Question 1

If an earthquake’s magnitude is measured based on the Richter scale, how is this abbreviated?

Answer 1

ML

Question 2

A surface along which rock on opposed sides is offset by an earthquake-induced slip is called a ________.

Answer 2

fault

Question 3

During an earthquake, if the hanging wall slides upward relative to the footwall, the fault is termed a ________ fault if the fault is steep (closer to vertical than horizontal). Refer to the figure below for an example of such a feature.

Answer 3

Reverse

Question 4

At any point along the surface of any nonvertical fault the:

Answer 4

Hanging wall lies vertically above the footwall

Question 5

Tsunamis are more destructive than wind-driven storm waves primarily because ________.

Answer 5

Tsunamis have longer wavelengths and thus larger volumes of water are involved

Question 6

According to the moment magnitude scale (Mw), a magnitude 8 earthquake would be 1,000 times greater than a magnitude ________ earthquake.

Answer 6

5

Question 7

During an earthquake, if a footwall slides upward relative to a hanging wall, the fault is termed a ________ fault.

Answer 7

Normal

Question 8

Surface waves ________.

Answer 8

produce most of the damage to buildings during earthquakes

Question 9

Generally, which type of earthquake waves travel with the slowest velocity?

Answer 9

Surface waves

Question 10

If a fault is nearly vertical in orientation and the two walls of rock on opposite sides slide past one another horizontally, the fault is termed a ________ fault.

Answer 10

Strike-sli