WorksheetsEarthquakes and Seismic Waves
Total questions: 39
Worksheet time: 31mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The motion caused by earthquakes travels outward from the focus in the form of
a)
Electromagnetic waves
b)
Seismic waves
c)
Gravity waves
d)
Chemical energy
2.
The focus of an earthquake is
a)
The point (below Earth's surface) where rocks first begin to break and the first movement occurs
b)
The closest seismic station
c)
The place where the greatest damage occurs
d)
A fault
3.
P and S waves travel through the earth, and so are called
a)
surface waves
b)
body waves
c)
tsunamis
d)
earth waves
4.
What does P in a P wave stand for?
a)
peridot
b)
picky
c)
primary
d)
partial
5.
What does S in an S wave stand for?
a)
super
b)
secondary
c)
slow
d)
sideways
6.
Which travels fastest, always being the first detected by seismic stations?
a)
P waves
b)
S waves
7.
Which kind of wave arrives at seismic stations second?
a)
P (primary)
b)
S (secondary)
c)
L (love)
d)
R (rayleigh)
8.
Which type of waves travel faster?
a)
Body waves (P and S waves)
b)
Surface waves (L and R waves)
9.
Which kind of waves usually do the most damage in an earthquake?
a)
Body waves (P and S waves)
b)
Surface waves (L and R waves)
10.
Which kind of waves canNOT travel through a liquid?
a)
P waves
b)
S waves
11.
The epicenter of an earthquake is
a)
The point below the surface where rock begins to break and the first motion occurs
b)
The seismic station closest to the earthquake
c)
The place where the greatest damage occurs
d)
The point on the surface directly above the focus
12.
Which layer of the Earth is divided into plates?
a)
Outer Core
b)
Crust
c)
Inner Core
d)
Mantle
13.
_________________ move through the rock material by causing particles in the rock to vibrate at right angles to the direction in which the waves are moving.
a)
Primary waves
b)
Secondary waves
c)
Surface waves
d)
Light waves
14.
Tectonic plate movement is caused by
a)
movement in the inner core
b)
conduction in the mantle
c)
convection currents in the mantle
d)
oceanic plates drifting
15.
Where are earthquakes and volcanoes most often located?
a)
center of crustal planes
b)
edges of crustal plates
c)
center of continents
d)
edges of continents
16.
What is the best description of primary waves?
a)
Waves that are the slowest, largest, and cause the most destruction
b)
Waves that cause rock particles to vibrate
c)
Waves that travel the fastest and cause rock material to move back and forth
d)
Waves that travel through a vacuum
17.
Why would a person be cooler on a hot sunny day wearing a light colored t-shirt and shorts than in a dark colored t-shirt and shorts made out of the same material?
a)
dark colors are hotter.
b)
dark colors absorb more radiation from the sun.
c)
dark colors reflect more radiation from the sun.
d)
olar radiation avoids light colored objects.
18.
Which type of seismic waves travel through Earth?
a)
Body Waves
b)
Surface Waves
c)
Continental Waves
d)
Ocean Waves
19.
Secondary (S) Seismic Waves can pass through
a)
solids only
b)
gases only
c)
liquids only
d)
solids, gases, and liquids
20.
Which of the following is NOT true regarding the epicenter of an earthquake?
a)
Located on the surface of Earth
b)
Location of the most damage
c)
Starting point of P and S waves
d)
Easily located
21.
These seismic waves can only travel through solids:
a)
p-waves
b)
s-waves
c)
surface waves
d)
z-waves
22.
These seismic waves compress and expand the ground like an accordion:
a)
p-waves
b)
s-waves
c)
surface waves
d)
z-waves
23.
These seismic waves can travel through both liquids and solids:
a)
p-waves
b)
s-waves
c)
surface waves
d)
z-waves
24.
These seismic waves arrive first to signal an earthquake and can damage buildings.
a)
p-waves
b)
s-waves
c)
surface waves
d)
z-waves
25.
These seismic waves arrive second and can shake the ground violently.
a)
p-waves
b)
s-waves
c)
surface waves
d)
z-waves
26.
These seismic waves can vibrate up and down or side to side at a 90 degree angle to the direction they travel:
a)
p-wave
b)
s-wave
c)
surface wave
d)
z-wave
27.
These seismic waves produce movement that is similar to rolling waves in an ocean:
a)
p-wave
b)
s-wave
c)
surface wave
d)
z-wave
28.
These seismic waves are slower and arrive last but causes severe damage:
a)
p-waves
b)
s-waves
c)
surface waves
d)
z-waves
29.
P-waves and S-waves are consider this type of wave:
a)
surface
b)
sonic
c)
body
d)
infrared
30.
A sudden release of energy from plate movement creating shaking and trembling is known as:
a)
seismic wave
b)
earthquake
c)
focus
d)
epicenter
31.
The built up movement of plates is released as energy and is carried by these:
a)
earthquakes
b)
seismic waves
c)
focus
d)
epicenter
32.
The point on the surface directly above the focus:
a)
earthquake
b)
seismic waves
c)
seismographic station
d)
epicenter
33.
This word describes the size of the earthquake:
a)
seismograph
b)
magnitude
c)
focus
d)
epicenter
34.
This area is responsible for 90% of all earthquakes in the world and contains numerous faults:
a)
Indian Ocean
b)
English Canal
c)
The Ring of Fire
d)
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
35.
This famous transform fault is located in the western United States creates significant earthquake activity for California
a)
New Madrid
b)
Denali Fault
c)
Ramapo Seismic Zone
d)
San Andreas
36.
A stress force that pulls Earth's crust apart and becomes thin in the middle is known as:
a)
tension
b)
compression
c)
shearing
d)
uplifting
37.
A stress force that pushes a mass of rock in 2 opposite directions causing rock to break, slip apart or change shape:
a)
tension
b)
compression
c)
shearing
d)
uplifting
38.
A stress force that pushes a mass of rock in 2 opposite directions causing rock to break, slip apart or change shape:
a)
tension
b)
compression
c)
shearing
d)
uplifting
39.
A break in the rock of the crust where rock surfaces slip past each other; usually occur along plate boundaries:
a)
focus
b)
epicenter
c)
fold
d)
fault
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