Earthquakes and Earth's Interior

Front

What is an earthquake?

Back

An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere, resulting in seismic waves.

Front

What is the S-P interval in seismology?

Back

The S-P interval is the time difference between the arrival of the primary (P) waves and secondary (S) waves at a seismic station, used to determine the distance to the earthquake epicenter.

Front

What does the Moment Magnitude scale measure?

Back

The Moment Magnitude scale measures the total energy released by an earthquake, taking into account the area of the fault that slipped, the amount of slip, and the rock's strength.

Front

What is the role of a seismograph?

Back

A seismograph is an instrument that detects and records the vibrations caused by seismic waves during an earthquake.

Front

What is the relationship between amplitude and earthquake magnitude?

Back

The amplitude of seismic waves is directly related to the magnitude of an earthquake; larger amplitudes indicate stronger earthquakes.

Front

What are seismic waves?

Back

Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the Earth, generated by the sudden release of energy during an earthquake.

Front

What are the two main types of seismic waves?

Back

The two main types of seismic waves are primary (P) waves, which are compressional waves, and secondary (S) waves, which are shear waves.

Front

What is the Earth's lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the upper mantle.

Front

What is the difference between the crust and the mantle?

Back

The crust is the thin, outermost layer of the Earth, while the mantle is the thick layer beneath the crust, composed of semi-solid rock.

Front

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Back

The focus of an earthquake is the point within the Earth where the earthquake originates, and seismic waves radiate outward from this point.