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Measurement of Earthquake

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 17mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
_________ is another word for an earthquake's strength.
a)
Intensity
b)
Frequency
c)
Magnitude
d)
Pressure
2.
What is the science in which earthquakes are studied?
a)
Seismogram
b)
Seismograph
c)
Earthquake Studies
d)
Seismology
3.

This scale is used to identify the magnitude of an earthquake and is a logarithmic scale...

a)

Modified Mercalli Scale

b)

Becquerel Scale

c)

Seismicgraph

d)

Richter Scale

4.

When reading a seismograph and determining where it falls on the Richter Scale seismologist use the _____ to determine the magnitude of the earthquake

a)

Wavelength

b)

Amplitude

c)

Frequency

d)

Period

5.

When we measure the magnitude of an earthquake, which scale should we use?

a)

Richter scale

b)

Earthquake scale

c)

Mercalli scale

d)

Body-wave magnitude scales

6.

When we measure the intensity of an earthquake, which scale should we use?

a)

Richter scale

b)

Earthquake scale

c)

Mercalli scale

d)

Body-wave magnitude scales

7.

Earthquakes that occur closer to the Earth's surface tend to be...

a)

of larger magnitude and high intensity which cause severe damage

b)

of larger magnitude and low intensity which cause minimal damage

c)

of smaller magnitude and low intensity which cause minimal damage

d)

of smaller magnitude and high intensity which cause severe damage

8.

Which of the following is the driving force (cause) of earthquakes?

a)

Continental drift

b)

Plate tectonics

c)

Subduction zones

d)

Gravity

9.

What is a break in the lithosphere along which movement in an earthquake has first occurred?

a)

Earthquake

b)

Epicenter

c)

Fault

d)

Focus

10.

Where is the point at which the first movement occurs during an earthquake?

a)

Epicenter

b)

Focus

c)

Fault

d)

Plate

11.

Where is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake?

a)

Epicenter

b)

Fault

c)

Hypocenter

d)

Tremor

12.
Which type of wave is the first to arrive after an earthquake occurs?
a)
P Wave
b)
Rayleigh Wave
c)
S Wave
d)
Shear Wave
13.

Which body waves cause particles of rock material to move at right angles to the direction in which the waves are traveling?

a)

Body Waves

b)

P Waves

c)

S Waves

d)

Surface Waves

14.
What is a smaller earthquake that follows a larger earthquake?
a)
Aftershock
b)
Liquefaction
c)
Seismic Gap
d)
Tsunami
15.

Which of the following is the Japanese name for a sea wave produced by the displacement of the sea floor.

a)

Liquefaction

b)

Moho

c)

Tsunami

d)

Surface Wave

16.

What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

a)

An area along a fault which has surpassed its usual interval between any earthquake activity.

b)

The location on Earth’s surface directly above the focus (or origin) of an earthquake.

c)

The point along a fault, within Earth’s crust, where an earthquake originates; the point where energy is released.

d)

The point at which faults like to gather around and discuss how stressed out they are.

17.

Moment Magnitude is the most precise measurement of earthquake intensity because...

a)

It is a measure of the amount of energy released by an earthquake, which is derived from the amount of displacement that occurs along the fault zone, and is more precise than the Richter scale.

b)

It measures the height of the largest seismic wave recorded on the seismogram, and is more precise than the Mercalli Scale.

c)

It rates earthquake intensity in terms of the damage caused to areas affected by the quake, and is more precise than the Richter Scale.

d)

It is momentous! MOMENTOUS, I SAY!!!

18.

Liquefaction is...

a)

When your cereal has sat in the milk for too long and becomes soggy.

b)

A sea wave produced by the displacement of the sea floor.

c)

A phenomenon sometimes associated with earthquakes, in which soils and other unconsolidated materials saturated with water, behave as a liquid.

d)

The fact that liquid exists.

19.

What is a seismograph?

a)

An instrument that records the vibration of seismic waves.

b)

The record made by a seismograph.

c)

A plot of earthquake shakiness on the y-axis and earthquake breakiness on the x-axis.

d)

The plot of distance over the amount of time you have to RUN!

20.

What is the correct term for an area along a fault which has surpassed its usual interval between any earthquake activity?

a)

The when-is-an-earthquake-gonna-happen zone

b)

Seismograph

c)

Seismic interval

d)

Seismic gap

21.

What is another term for P Wave?

a)

Compression Wave

b)

Principal Wave

c)

Shear Wave

d)

Secondary Wave

22.

Which of the following is a true statement about tectonic plates?

a)

All tectonic plates are located at Earth's core

b)

They're located approximately 10 meters below the surface of the ocean

c)

They're located in the molten layer beneath Earth's crust

d)

All of Earth's landmass rests on tectonic plates

23.

What can you infer from the fact that tectonic plates are always moving around?

a)

New volcanoes form every few years.

b)

The shape and location of the continents have changed over time.

c)

Tectonic activity probably caused the last Ice Age.

d)

Earthquakes will continue long after hurricanes and tsunamis have stopped.

24.

Why are surface waves more destructive to buildings than the initial seismic wave in an earthquake?

a)

It creates more sustained motion on the surface.

b)

It reaches the surface faster.

c)

It reaches deeper below the surface.

d)

It travels farther from the hypocenter.

25.
P Waves can move through which of the following?
a)
Gas
b)
Liquid
c)
Solid
d)
All of these