Seismic waves 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 volcanic activity.

Front

What is the difference between P-waves and S-waves?

Back

P-waves (Primary waves) are compressional waves that can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, while S-waves (Secondary waves) are shear waves that can only travel through solids.

Front

What are surface waves?

Back

Surface waves are seismic waves that travel along the Earth's surface and are responsible for most of the damage during an earthquake.

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 Moment Magnitude Scale?

Back

The Moment Magnitude Scale is a scale that measures the total energy released by an earthquake, providing a more accurate measure than the Richter scale.

Front

What is the Ring of Fire?

Back

The Ring of Fire is a major area in the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur due to tectonic plate movements.

Front

How long does it take for an S-wave to travel 6000 km?

Back

17 minutes.

Front

What is the primary cause of tsunamis?

Back

Tsunamis are primarily caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.

Front

What is the difference between an earthquake and a tsunami?

Back

An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates, while a tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by large disturbances in or near a body of water.

Front

What is a fault line?

Back

A fault line is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, which can lead to earthquakes when stress builds up and is released.