ES-5.3-Locating the Source of an Earthquake

Multiple Choice

BELLRINGER:

What is the difference between the epicenter and the hypocenter (focus) of an earthquake?

• The epicenter is underground while the hypocenter is on the surface.

• The epicenter is the point on the surface above the earthquake's origin, while the hypocenter is the actual underground location where the earthquake begins.

• The epicenter is where the most damage occurs, while the hypocenter is where the least damage occurs.

• The epicenter is always in the ocean, while the hypocenter is always on land.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important for seismologists to locate the source of an earthquake?

• To predict future earthquakes

• To understand the impact zones and help with disaster response

• To measure the temperature of the Earth's core

• To find new mineral resources

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best explains why S waves arrive after P waves at seismic stations?

• S waves travel slower than P waves.

• S waves start later than P waves.

• S waves are blocked by the Earth's core.

• S waves are weaker than P waves.

Open Ended

Explain how the interval between P and S wave arrivals can be used to estimate the distance from a seismic station to an earthquake epicenter.

Multiple Select

Which steps are involved in determining the distance to an earthquake epicenter using seismograms?

• Measure the P-S interval on a seismogram.

• Use a travel-time graph to relate interval to distance.

• Draw a vertical line to the horizontal axis to read distance.

• Estimate the earthquake's magnitude from the amplitude.