Earthquake Vocabulary

What is a primary earthquake wave that travels through the body of the earth; so named because it is the first wave to reach a seismograph station during an earthquake.

• P-wave

• S-wave

• Surface wave

• body wave

What is an earthquake wave that follows the main shock of an earthquake?

• body wave

• P wave

• aftershock

• S wave

What is an earthquake wave that travels through the body of the earth?

• P wave

• body wave

• surface wave

• S wave

The vibrations in the earth caused by the sudden release of energy is called an ______________.

• epicenter

• aftershock

• earthquake

• tsunami

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

What is the point on the surface of the earth directly above the focus of an earthquake?

• epicenter

• fault

• focus

• intensity

What is a fracture in bedrock along which blocks of rock on opposite sides of the fracture move?

• focus

• epicenter

• intensity

• fault

What is the location where the rupture of an earthquake begins and energy is released called?

• epicenter

• focus

• intensity

• S wave

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What is a measure of the damage done by an earthquake called?

• epicenter

• magnitude

• intensity

• focus

What is a measure of the total amount of energy released at the focus of an earthquake called?

• intensity

• magnitude

• seismic wave

• epicenter

What is a wave generated by earthquake vibrations called?

• seismogram

• surface wave

• seismic wave

• seismology

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

NGSS.MS-PS4-2