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Earthquakes

Total questions: 14

Worksheet time: 9mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

According to elastic rebound theory, earthquakes occur when stresses on rocks become too great and the rocks________

a)

become deformed

b)

fracture and form a joint

c)

return to their original shape

d)

are permanently stretched out of shape

2.

The focus of a shallow earthquake is

a)

less than 70 km below the surface.

b)

between 70 and 300 km below the surface.

c)

more than 300 kilometers below the surface.

d)

none of the above

3.

About 80 percent of all earthquakes take place

a)

in the state of California.

b)

at divergent plate boundaries.

c)

along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

d)

far from plate boundaries.

4.

The wavelength of a wave can be measured by finding the distance between

a)

the focus and the epicenter.

b)

a P wave and an S wave.

c)

a crest and a trough.

d)

two adjacent crests.

5.

Seismic waves that do the most damage are

a)

body waves.

b)

surface waves.

c)

primary waves.

d)

secondary waves.

6.

Surface waves that produce a rolling motion are

a)

P waves.

b)

S waves.

c)

love waves.

d)

Rayleigh waves.

7.

Tsunamis may be caused by

a)

landslides.

b)

meteorites.

c)

nuclear explosions.

d)

all of the above

8.

Assume that an earthquake has a magnitude of 4 on the Richter scale. An earthquake that is 100 times stronger has a magnitude of

a)

5

b)

6

c)

40

d)

400

9.

The moment magnitude of an earthquake is calculated from the

a)

two of the following

b)

amplitude of the seismic waves.

c)

length of the fault.

d)

distance the ground moves.

10.

Finding the amplitude of a seismic wave is one way of determining its

a)

magnitude

b)

intensity

c)

wavelength

d)

wave speed

11.

If a seismogram records only P waves and surface waves for an earthquake, the earthquake must be

a)

very close to Earth’s surface.

b)

very far below Earth’s surface.

c)

extremely close to the seismograph.

d)

on the opposite side of Earth from the seismograph.

12.

Earthquake scale based on the total energy released in an earthquake

a)

Richter magnitude scale

b)

Mercalli intensity scale

c)

moment magnitude scale

13.

Earthquake scale based on the height of seismic waves on a seismogram

a)

Richter magnitude scale

b)

Mercalli intensity scale

c)

moment magnitude scale

14.

Earthquake scale based on information such as the damage done to buildings

a)

Richter magnitude scale

b)

Mercalli intensity scale

c)

moment magnitude scale