Earthquakes Vocab

Front

Definition of Anticline?

Back

An upward fold in rock formed by compression of Earth’s crust.

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Definition of Compression

Back

Stress that squeezes rock until it folds or breaks.

Front

Definition of Epicenter

Back

The point on Earth’s surface directly above an earthquake’s focus.

Front

Definition of Focus:

Back

The point beneath the Earth's surface where rock breaks under stress and causes an earthquake.

Front

Definition of Liquefaction?

Back

The process by which an earthquake’s violent movement suddenly turns loose soil into liquid mud.

Front

Definition of Magnitude?

Back

Measurement of an earthquake’s strength based on seismic waves and movement along faults.

Front

Definition of P-Wave

Back

A type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the ground.

Front

Richter Scale definition

Back

Rates an earthquake’s magnitude based on the size of its seismic waves.

Front

Definition of Seismograph

Back

A device that records ground movements caused by seismic waves.

Front

Definition of Shearing?

Back

Stress pushing rock masses sideways.