Chapter 19 Earthquakes Vocab

Front

Fracture in Earth's crust due to rapid or excessive stress

Back

Fault

Front

Ground vibrations during an earthquake

Back

Seismic Wave

Front

Seismic wave that squeezes and pushes rock in the same direction as it travels.

Back

Primary Wave

Front

Seismic wave causing rock particles to move at right angles to the wave's direction

Back

Secondary Wave

Front

Point of initial fault rupture where an earthquake originates, usually beneath Earth's surface.

Back

Focus

Front

Point on Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

Back

Epicenter

Front

Instrument for measuring motion during an earthquake

Back

Seismometer

Front

Record produced by the instrument measuring earthquake motion

Back

Seismogram

Front

Numerical rating system for earthquake energy release

Back

Richter Scale

Front

Energy released during an earthquake, described by the Mercalli Scale.

Back

Magnitude