Earthquakes

Front

What are earthquakes?

Back

Earthquakes are sudden shaking or vibrations of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface.

Front

True or False: Earthquakes happen every day, but most are too small for humans to notice.

Back

True

Front

What are P Waves?

Back

P Waves, or primary waves, are the fastest seismic waves that can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Front

What type of wave is the first to arrive after an earthquake occurs?

Back

P Wave

Front

What is the most destructive type of seismic wave?

Back

Surface Wave.

Front

What scale was historically used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes?

Back

Richter Scale.

Front

What are S Waves?

Back

S Waves, or secondary waves, are seismic waves that can only travel through solids and arrive after P Waves.

Front

What is the difference between P Waves and S Waves?

Back

P Waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, while S Waves can only travel through solids.

Front

What is a tectonic plate?

Back

A tectonic plate is a massive slab of solid rock that makes up the Earth's lithosphere and moves over the semi-fluid asthenosphere.

Front

What causes earthquakes?

Back

Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust due to tectonic plate movements.