Unit 1.3 Dynamic Earth, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes

Front

What causes earthquakes?

Back

Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, resulting in seismic waves. This release often occurs along faults where tectonic plates interact.

Front

What is a fault in geology?

Back

A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, which allows for the movement of the blocks relative to each other.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with one another, causing geological activity such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Front

What is the Richter Scale?

Back

The Richter Scale is a logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes based on the amplitude of seismic waves.

Front

What is the Modified Mercalli Scale?

Back

The Modified Mercalli Scale measures the intensity of an earthquake based on its effects on people, buildings, and the Earth's surface.

Front

What is a tsunami?

Back

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by large disturbances, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides, that displace a significant amount of water.

Front

What is compression stress?

Back

Compression stress occurs when rocks are pushed together, often leading to the formation of mountains and reverse faults.

Front

What is shear stress?

Back

Shear stress occurs when forces are applied parallel to a surface, causing layers of rock to slide past each other, often resulting in strike-slip faults.

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 extensional forces.

Front

What is a reverse fault?

Back

A reverse fault is a type of fault where the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall, typically caused by compressional forces.