Forces that Shape Earth's Surface Terms

Front

Stress

Back

The force applied to a material, causing deformation.

Front

Tension

Back

A type of stress that stretches and pulls a material apart.

Front

Compression

Back

A type of stress that squeezes and shortens a material.

Front

Normal Fault

Back

A fault where the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall.

Front

Hanging Wall

Back

The block of rock that lies above an inclined fault or an ore body.

Front

Footwall

Back

The block of rock that lies beneath an inclined fault or an ore body.

Front

Reverse Fault

Back

A fault where the hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall.

Front

Strike-Slip Fault

Back

A fault where rocks on either side move past each other sideways with little up or down motion.

Front

Focus

Back

The point INSIDE the Earth where an earthquake begins.

Front

Epicenter

Back

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