Earthquakes

Front

What is an earthquake?

Back

An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere, resulting in seismic waves.

Front

What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

Back

The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the location where an earthquake originates (the focus).

Front

What are P-waves?

Back

P-waves, or primary waves, are the fastest seismic waves that travel through solids and liquids, compressing and expanding the material they move through.

Front

What are S-waves?

Back

S-waves, or secondary waves, are seismic waves that follow P-waves and can only travel through solids, moving the ground up and down or side to side.

Front

What is a tsunami?

Back

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

Front

How can the distance to an earthquake's epicenter be determined?

Back

The distance can be calculated by measuring the difference in arrival times between P-waves and S-waves at a seismograph.

Front

What happens to S-waves when they reach the outer core?

Back

S-waves are absorbed by the outer core and cannot travel through it, while P-waves can pass through.

Front

What is the outer core?

Back

The outer core is a liquid layer of the Earth's interior located beneath the mantle and above the inner core, composed mainly of iron and nickel.

Front

What is the Richter scale?

Back

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

Front

What is seismic activity?

Back

Seismic activity refers to the frequency, type, and size of earthquakes that occur in a certain area over a specific period.