Chapter 8 Assessment

Front

What is the Benioff zone?

Back

A three-dimensional zone of earthquake foci within and along the upper portion of a subducting plate; formed by release of strain as the subducting plate scrapes past the overriding plate.

Front

What is a foreshock?

Back

A small earthquake that precedes a large quake by a few seconds to a few weeks.

Front

What is the Outer Core?

Back

The layer of the Earth located beneath the mantle and above the inner core, composed of liquid iron and nickel.

Front

What are surface waves?

Back

Seismic waves that radiate from the earthquake’s epicenter and travel along the surface of Earth or along a boundary between layers within Earth.

Front

What are P waves?

Back

Seismic body waves that are the first to reach an observer; sometimes called compression waves.

Front

What is the difference between P waves and S waves?

Back

P waves are compressional waves that can travel through solids and liquids, while S waves are shear waves that can only travel through solids.

Front

What is an earthquake's epicenter?

Back

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the location where an earthquake originates.

Front

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Back

The point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture starts.

Front

What are seismic waves?

Back

Waves of energy that travel through the Earth, produced by the sudden release of energy during an earthquake.

Front

What is the Richter scale?

Back

A logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake based on the amplitude of seismic waves.