Earthquake Essentials Quiz

What is the primary cause of earthquakes?

• Meteor impacts

• Volcanic eruptions

• Movement of tectonic plates

• Heavy rainfall

Which scale is commonly used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes?

• Richter scale

• Beaufort scale

• Fujita scale

• Saffir-Simpson scale

What are seismic waves?

• Ocean waves caused by the moon

• Sound waves through the Earth's core

• Energy waves caused by earthquakes

• Light waves from the sun

What is a fault in geological terms?

• A mistake in rock formation

• A fracture in the Earth's crust where movement has occurred

• A type of volcano

• A large cave system

What effect can earthquakes have on the environment?

• Change in river courses

• Increased plant growth

• Decrease in wind speed

• Brighter sunlight

Which type of seismic wave travels the fastest?

• Love waves

• Rayleigh waves

• P-waves

• S-waves

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

• Epicenter

• Hypocenter

• Centerpoint

• Ground zero

Which of the following is NOT a type of fault?

• Strike-slip fault

• Normal fault

• Reverse fault

• Circular fault

What happens at a convergent boundary between tectonic plates?

• The plates move away from each other

• The plates slide past each other

• The plates move towards each other

• The plates remain stationary

How can earthquakes affect buildings?

• Make them more stable

• Cause them to rotate

• Cause damage or collapse

• Increase their height