What Causes an Earthquake? Flashcards
What is an earthquake?
The shaking and vibration of the Earth’s crust due to movement of the Earth’s plates.
Where can earthquakes happen?
Along any type of plate boundary.
How to earthquakes occur?
When tensions released from inside the crust
What happens when plates get stuck?
Plates don’t always run smoothly past each other sometimes they get stuck.
When this happens pressure builds up.
When the pressure is eventually released and earthquake tends to occur.
What is the focus?
The point inside the crust where the pressure is released.
The point on the Earth’s surface above the focus is called what?
Epicentre.
What is the earthquakes energy released as?
Seismic waves.
What do seismic waves do?
Spread out from the focus.
Where are the waves the strongest?
At the epicentre becoming less strong as they travel further away.
Where will the most damage take place?
Near the epicentre.
