An earthquake is the shaking of the core-standards?dictionary=surface&did=1127" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1127,'surface');return false;" style="color:#009000;">surface of the core-standards?dictionary=earth&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth resulting from a sudden release of core-standards?dictionary=energy&did=890" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,890,'energy');return false;" style="color:#009000;">energy in the core-standards?dictionary=earth%27s&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth'score-standards?dictionary=lithosphere&did=1241" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1241,'lithosphere');return false;" style="color:#009000;">lithosphere that creates seismic waves. This can happen when there is a sudden movement along a fault line or when there is core-standards?dictionary=volcanic+activity&did=794" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,794,'volcanic activity');return false;" style="color:#009000;">volcanic activity.
core-standards?dictionary=causes&did=1139" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1139,'cause');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Causes of Earthquakes
Earthquakes can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
core-standards?dictionary=tectonic+plate&did=1186" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1186,'tectonic plate');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Tectonic Plate Movement: The majority of earthquakes occur along the boundaries of core-standards?dictionary=tectonic+plates&did=2055" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,2055,'tectonic plates');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonic plates. When these plates move, they can core-standards?dictionary=cause&did=1139" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1139,'cause');return false;" style="color:#009000;">cause stress to build up in the core-standards?dictionary=earth%27s&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth'score-standards?dictionary=crust&did=777" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,777,'crust');return false;" style="color:#009000;">crust, which can core-standards?dictionary=lead&did=1514" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1514,'lead');return false;" style="color:#009000;">lead to an earthquake.
core-standards?dictionary=volcanic+activity&did=794" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,794,'volcanic activity');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Volcanic Activity: Earthquakes can also be caused by core-standards?dictionary=volcanic+activity&did=794" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,794,'volcanic activity');return false;" style="color:#009000;">volcanic activity when magma moves beneath the core-standards?dictionary=earth%27s+surface&did=811" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,811,'earth\'s surface');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth's surface, putting core-standards?dictionary=pressure&did=994" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,994,'pressure');return false;" style="color:#009000;">pressure on the surrounding core-standards?dictionary=rocks&did=792" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,792,'rock');return false;" style="color:#009000;">rocks and causing them to fracture.
Human Activities: Some earthquakes can be triggered by human activities such as mining, reservoir-induced seismicity (caused by the filling of large reservoirs), and hydraulic fracturing.
Measuring Earthquakes
Earthquakes are measured using instruments called seismographs. The magnitude of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale, which is a logarithmic scale that measures the core-standards?dictionary=amplitude&did=1113" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1113,'amplitude');return false;" style="color:#009000;">amplitude of seismic waves. The intensity of an earthquake, on the other hand, is measured using the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, which assesses the core-standards?dictionary=effects&did=1140" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1140,'effect');return false;" style="color:#009000;">effects of an earthquake on the core-standards?dictionary=earth%27s+surface&did=811" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,811,'earth\'s surface');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth's surface and on core-standards?dictionary=humans&did=1580" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1580,'humans');return false;" style="color:#009000;">humans, buildings, and natural features.
core-standards?dictionary=effects&did=1140" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1140,'effect');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Effects of Earthquakes
Earthquakes can have a wide range of core-standards?dictionary=effects&did=1140" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1140,'effect');return false;" style="color:#009000;">effects, including:
Ground Shaking: The most immediate and noticeable core-standards?dictionary=effect&did=1140" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1140,'effect');return false;" style="color:#009000;">effect of an earthquake is the shaking of the ground, which can core-standards?dictionary=cause&did=1139" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1139,'cause');return false;" style="color:#009000;">cause buildings and infrastructure to collapse.
core-standards?dictionary=landslides&did=1967" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1967,'landslide');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Landslides and core-standards?dictionary=tsunamis&did=1968" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1968,'tsunamis');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Tsunamis: Earthquakes can trigger core-standards?dictionary=landslides&did=1967" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1967,'landslide');return false;" style="color:#009000;">landslides in hilly or mountainous areas, and in coastal regions, they can generate core-standards?dictionary=tsunamis&did=1968" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1968,'tsunamis');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tsunamis, which are large core-standards?dictionary=ocean&did=1322" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1322,'ocean');return false;" style="color:#009000;">oceancore-standards?dictionary=waves&did=1091" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1091,'waves');return false;" style="color:#009000;">waves that can core-standards?dictionary=cause&did=1139" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1139,'cause');return false;" style="color:#009000;">cause widespread destruction.
Structural Damage: Buildings, bridges, and other structures can suffer severe damage or collapse during an earthquake, leading to loss of core-standards?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">life and property.
Aftershocks: After the main earthquake, smaller tremors known as aftershocks can occur, which may core-standards?dictionary=cause&did=1139" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1139,'cause');return false;" style="color:#009000;">cause additional damage to already weakened structures.
Studying for Earthquakes
To study for a topic like earthquakes, it's important to understand the core-standards?dictionary=causes&did=1139" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1139,'cause');return false;" style="color:#009000;">causes, core-standards?dictionary=effects&did=1140" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1140,'effect');return false;" style="color:#009000;">effects, and measurements associated with seismic activity. Here are some key points to focus on:
Understand the different core-standards?dictionary=causes&did=1139" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1139,'cause');return false;" style="color:#009000;">causes of earthquakes, including core-standards?dictionary=tectonic+plate&did=1186" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1186,'tectonic plate');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonic plate movement, core-standards?dictionary=volcanic+activity&did=794" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,794,'volcanic activity');return false;" style="color:#009000;">volcanic activity, and human-induced factors.
Be familiar with the instruments and scales used to measure earthquakes, such as seismographs, the Richter scale, and the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale.
Learn about the core-standards?dictionary=effects&did=1140" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1140,'effect');return false;" style="color:#009000;">effects of earthquakes, including ground shaking, core-standards?dictionary=landslides&did=1967" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1967,'landslide');return false;" style="color:#009000;">landslides, core-standards?dictionary=tsunamis&did=1968" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1968,'tsunamis');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tsunamis, and structural damage.
Study how scientists monitor and predict earthquakes, and the ways in which communities can prepare for and respond to seismic events.
By understanding these key concepts, you can gain a deeper knowledge of earthquakes and their impact on the core-standards?dictionary=earth%27s+surface&did=811" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,811,'earth\'s surface');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth's surface and society.
[Earthquakes] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:
Earth/Space Science: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the chemical and physical interactions (i.e., natural forces and cycles, transfer of energy) of the environment, Earth, and the universe that occur over time.
Earth History: Explain how sedimentary rock is formed periodically, embedding plant and animal remains and leaving a record of the sequence in which the plants and animals appeared and disappeared.
Explain how sedimentary rock buried deep enough may be reformed by pressure and heat and these reformed rock layers may be forced up again to become land surface and even mountains.
Explain why some fossils found in the top layers of sedimentary rock are older then those found beneath in lower layers: Folding; Breaking; Uplift; Faulting; Tilting.