What is an Earthquake?

Earthquakes are sudden, violent movements of the Earth's crust caused by tectonic plate shifts. They occur at fault lines, with the focus being the point of pressure release and the epicenter directly above it. Seismic waves from earthquakes are measured using seismometers and the Richter scale. Severe earthquakes can devastate cities and trigger secondary effects like tsunamis. Despite their impact, predicting earthquakes remains a challenge.

What causes earthquakes according to the text?

What is the difference between the focus and the epicenter of an earthquake?

How are seismic waves related to earthquakes?

What are some secondary effects that can occur after an earthquake?

Why is predicting earthquakes considered important?