Sample questions about Earthquakes                            Name__________________

 

 

1. What are “earthquakes”? What are some synonyms?

 

2. In the chart below, tell which type of movement causes each kind of fault and give an example of where such faulting has occurred.

 

Kind of Fault

Type of stress

Example

Strike-slip

 

 

Normal

 

 

Reverse

 

 

 

Draw or insert from a web site block diagrams to represent each type of fault. (If you insert images, be sure to provide appropriate credit to your source.)

 

3. In the table below, check which type best matches each description. Choices may be used more than once.

 

Characteristic

Primary (P) waves

Secondary (S) waves

Surface waves

Fastest, first to arrive

 

 

 

 

Second to arrive

 

 

 

 

Can move through solids and liquids

 

 

 

Can only move through solids

 

 

 

Produce most damage to buildings

 

 

 

Particles vibrate back and forth

 

 

 

Particles vibrate from side to side

 

 

 

Particles move like ocean waves

 

 

 

 

 

4. What instrument detects when earthquakes occur? How many are needed to locate where a quake happens?

 

5. What is the difference between the “focus” and the “epicenter”?

 

6. What information does the Richter scale provide? What information does the Mercalli scale provide?

 

7. Where do most earthquakes occur? On your world map, color these zones and attach your map to this sheet.

 

8. Name some features of Earth’s surface associated with earthquakes?

 

9. What is the difference between “risk” and “hazard” with regard to earthquakes?

 

10. Name three ways in which earthquake hazards can be reduced.