An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. This can happen when there is movement along a fault line, volcanic activity, or other geological processes.
Earthquakes are measured using instruments called seismometers. The magnitude of an earthquake is typically reported on the Richter scale or the moment magnitude scale. The intensity of an earthquake, which measures its effects, is often reported using the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale.
Here are some key points to remember about earthquakes:
Understanding earthquakes and how to stay safe during them is important for living in areas prone to seismic activity.