Understanding Earthquakes and Waves

What is the point at which rock under stress breaks and triggers an earthquake?

• Epicenter

• Fault

• Focus

• Seismic point

What is the point on the surface directly above the focus called?

• Crust

• Epicenter

• Mantle

• Seismograph

What do seismic waves carry?

• Rocks and lava

• Light and sound

• Energy of an earthquake

• Water and wind

Seismic waves originate from which location?

• Mantle

• Epicenter

• Focus

• Crust

Which direction do seismic waves travel?

• Upward only

• Side to side only

• In all directions from the focus

• Downward only

Which of the following is NOT a type of seismic wave?

• P wave

• S wave

• Surface wave

• Underground wave

What type of wave causes buildings to contract and expand?

• P wave

• S wave

• Surface wave

• Rayleigh wave

What type of wave shakes buildings from side to side?

• Surface wave

• P wave

• S wave

• Tectonic wave

What wave causes the most violent shaking?

• P wave

• Surface wave

• S wave

• Longitudinal wave

Which wave arrives first during an earthquake?

• Surface wave

• P wave

• S wave

• L wave