Volcanoes and Earthquakes Practice Flashcard

Front

What causes earthquakes?

Back

Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates grind against each other at their boundaries.

Front

What type of plate boundary is characterized by plates sliding past each other?

Back

Transform boundary.

Front

At which type of tectonic plate boundary are volcanoes most commonly found?

Back

Convergent boundary.

Front

What is the function of a seismograph?

Back

An instrument that detects and measures earthquakes.

Front

Define an earthquake.

Back

An earthquake is the energy released as rocks break and move along a fault.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries.

Front

What is the difference between a convergent and divergent plate boundary?

Back

A convergent boundary occurs where plates move toward each other, while a divergent boundary occurs where plates move apart.

Front

What is a fault in geological terms?

Back

A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock.

Front

What is the Ring of Fire?

Back

A major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Front

What is the significance of the Richter scale?

Back

The Richter scale measures the magnitude of earthquakes.