Earthquakes and Tsunami Flashcard

Front

What are seismic waves?

Back

Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the Earth, typically as a result of an earthquake or other geological activity.

Front

What are S waves?

Back

S waves, or secondary waves, are seismic waves that move rocks up and down and side to side. They are slower than P waves and can only travel through solids.

Front

What are P waves?

Back

P waves, or primary waves, are seismic waves that compress and expand the material they move through. They are the fastest seismic waves and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Front

What is a tsunami?

Back

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by large disturbances, such as underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.

Front

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Back

The focus of an earthquake is the point within the Earth where the earthquake originates, and seismic waves begin to radiate outward.

Front

What is the Richter Scale?

Back

The Richter Scale is a logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes, with each whole number increase representing a tenfold increase in measured amplitude.

Front

How much bigger is a magnitude 8 earthquake compared to a magnitude 7 earthquake?

Back

A magnitude 8 earthquake is 10 times bigger than a magnitude 7 earthquake on the Richter Scale.

Front

What are the effects of underwater earthquakes?

Back

Underwater earthquakes can cause tsunamis, which are large and destructive ocean waves that can inundate coastal areas.

Front

What is the difference between seismic waves and electromagnetic waves?

Back

Seismic waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through, while electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.

Front

What is the speed of S waves compared to P waves?

Back

S waves travel slower than P waves; P waves are the fastest seismic waves.