Earthquakes

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What is an Earthquake?

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An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves.

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What are Seismic Waves?

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Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the Earth and are caused by earthquakes or other geological activity.

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What is a P-Wave?

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A P-Wave, or primary wave, is a type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the material it travels through. It is the fastest seismic wave.

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What is an S-Wave?

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An S-Wave, or secondary wave, is a type of seismic wave that moves the ground up and down or side to side. It is slower than a P-Wave.

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What is a Surface Wave?

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A surface wave is a seismic wave that travels along the Earth's surface. It is slower than both P-Waves and S-Waves but can cause more damage.

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What is the Earth's Crust?

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The Earth's crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, where we live. It is solid and relatively thin compared to the other layers.

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What is the Mantle?

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The mantle is the layer of the Earth located between the crust and the core. It is made of semi-solid rock that flows slowly.

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What is the Core of the Earth?

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The core is the innermost layer of the Earth, composed mainly of iron and nickel. It is divided into a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.

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What is a Fault?

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A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults can cause earthquakes when stress builds up and is released.

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What are Plate Boundaries?

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Plate boundaries are the edges where two tectonic plates meet. They can be divergent, convergent, or transform, and are often sites of earthquakes.