Refer to page 272- 278 to fill in the following notes.
What causes earthquakes?
Earthquakes happen at the boundaries between_____________________________________.
Scientists think that earthquakes occur at plate boundaries mainly where two plates become
____________________or ___________________________. Plates are being moved along by
convection currents but they can’t move. Gradually the pressure deforms _______________.
Eventually the rocks can’t with stand the pressure and they suddenly ____________________________.
Earthquakes far from Plate Boundaries:
Plate boundaries are not the only place that earthquakes occur. Sometimes they occur along fault lines.
Explain what a fault is __________________________________________________________________.
That first break:
Define each of the following and label them on the diagram
Faults____________________________________________________________________________
Focus_____________________________________________________________________________
Seismic waves______________________________________________________________________
Epicenter__________________________________________________________________________
Measuring the strength of Earthquakes:
In your own words, explain the Richter scale.
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
Using the Canadian Earthquake handout:
What is the strongest earthquake to occur in Canada, when did it occur and what was the strength?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Where do the majority of Canada’s earthquakes occur?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Using the chromebooks choose one famous earthquake and research the following questions. Pretend
you are a reporter and write an article about the quake.
Where did it occur? (city, country and plate)
When did it occur?
What was the strength on the Richter scale?
Explain the damage done.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/
Using the above website, answer the following questions.
List the location and magnitude of an earthquake that has occurred this week.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Using “Today in Earthquake History” enter your birthday and write down the location and magnitude of
the earthquake shown.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Looking at “Cool Earthquake facts” answer the following:
What was the strongest earthquake to occur?
Where did the strongest earthquake in the USA happen and what was the magnitude on the Richter
Scale?