What is an Earthquake?

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What is an Earthquake?

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An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves.

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What are P Waves?

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P Waves, or Primary Waves, are seismic waves that are the first to arrive after an earthquake. They can move through gas, liquid, and solid.

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What is Magnitude in relation to earthquakes?

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Magnitude measures how much energy an earthquake releases, indicated by the amplitude of seismic waves.

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What is an Aftershock?

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An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs in the same area after a larger earthquake has taken place.

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What is the first type of wave to arrive after an earthquake?

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The first type of wave to arrive after an earthquake is the P Wave.

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What causes the buildup of energy that leads to an earthquake?

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According to the elastic rebound theory, rocks bend until their strength is exceeded, causing a sudden release of energy.

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What is the Focus of an earthquake?

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The focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.

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What is the Epicenter of an earthquake?

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

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What are S Waves?

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S Waves, or Secondary Waves, are seismic waves that arrive after P Waves and can only move through solids.

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What is Liquefaction?

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Liquefaction is a phenomenon where saturated soil substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress, often during an earthquake.