Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Front

What causes earthquakes?

Back

Earthquakes happen when two tectonic plates break away from each other after being stuck.

Front

At which boundaries do earthquakes mainly occur?

Back

Earthquakes mainly occur at convergent and transform boundaries.

Front

What is a fault?

Back

A fault is a break in the lithosphere along which movement in an earthquake has first occurred.

Front

What type of boundary occurs when plates move past each other?

Back

Transform boundaries occur when plates move past each other.

Front

What is a volcano?

Back

A volcano is an opening in Earth's crust through which molten rock, gases, and ash erupt.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Front

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Back

The focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.

Front

What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

Back

The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

What happens at a divergent boundary?

Back

At a divergent boundary, tectonic plates move away from each other, creating new crust.