Earthquakes

Front

What is a fault?

Back

A fault is a region in Earth's crust that is broken and where movement occurs.

Front

What does the Mercalli scale measure?

Back

The Mercalli scale measures the damage suffered during an earthquake.

Front

Can faults be found within a tectonic plate?

Back

Yes, faults can sometimes be found within a plate instead of at a plate boundary.

Front

What type of fault is caused by compression?

Back

A reverse fault is caused by compression.

Front

What type of stress causes a strike-slip fault?

Back

A strike-slip fault is caused by shearing stress.

Front

What are seismic waves?

Back

Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the Earth, often as a result of an earthquake.

Front

What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

Back

The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

Front

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Back

The focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.

Front

What is a normal fault?

Back

A normal fault is a type of fault where the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall, typically caused by tension.

Front

What is a strike-slip fault?

Back

A strike-slip fault is a type of fault where two blocks of crust slide past each other horizontally.