What happens during an earthquake?

During an earthquake land is thrust either vertically or horizontally along a ..................

• focus

• fault

• fracture

• fissure

The fault which runs 600km along the length of the South Island is called the ..................................

• Hikurangi Trench

• Port Hills Fault

• Alpine Fault

• Mt Cook Fault

The Alpine Fault is an example of a..............................................

• Normal Fault

• Reverse Fault

• Strike-slip Fault

Answer explanation

The main movement along the Alpine Fault is horizontal, in a shearing action. When the fault does move in an earthquake, it causes uplift, or reverse faulting, of the Southern Alps mountains at the same time!

When an area of crustal rock moves in an earthquake, circular waves of energy are released. What are these waves called?

How many types of Seismic Waves are there?

• 1

• 2

• 4

The first wave to reach the earth's surface is the ................... Wave

• E wave

• F wave

• P wave

• S wave

P waves, or Primary waves cause the earth to move:

• forwards and backwards

• up and down

Secondary waves, or S waves, have a higher amplitude, so cause more ground movement. True or False?

• True

• False

Which scale only measures an earthquake's magnitude, or strength?

• Richter (M)

• Mercalli (I-VII)

• Moment Magnitude (Mw)

Which measurement scale accounts for both magnitude and the the mechanical damage caused by an earthquake?

• Richter (M)

• Mercalli (I-VII)

• Moment Magnitude (Mw)