Earthquakes

What are earthquakes?

• Movements of the ocean

• Vibrations in the ground that result from breaks in Earth's lithosphere

• Changes in atmospheric pressure

• Volcanic eruptions

What is the term used to describe the distance Earth's surface moves during an earthquake?

• Seismic shift

• Ground displacement

• Lithosphere stretch

• Tectonic drift

Where do most earthquakes occur?

• In the center of the oceans

• Along the edges of continents

• In the outer atmosphere

• On the moon

What is the point on Earth's surface directly above the earthquake's focus called?

• Hypocenter

• Mantle

• Epicenter

• Seismocenter

As seismic waves move away from the epicenter, what happens to their energy and intensity?

• They increase in energy and intensity

• They fluctuate unpredictably

• They remain constant

• They decrease in energy and intensity

What type of motion do particles in the ground exhibit during an earthquake?

• Only up and down

• Only back and forth

• Back and forth, up and down, or in an elliptical motion

• Circular motion

What are primary waves also known as?

• A) S-waves

• B) Surface waves

• C) P-waves

• D) Rayleigh waves

Which waves are the first to be detected and recorded after an earthquake?

• A) Secondary waves

• B) Surface waves

• C) Primary waves

• D) Rayleigh waves

Secondary waves are also known as ________.

• A) P-waves

• B) S-waves

• C) Rayleigh waves

• D) Love waves

What is the Earth's outer core confirmed to be composed of?

• A) Solid iron and nickel

• B) Liquid iron and nickel

• C) Solid rock

• D) Magma