UNIT 4 LESSON 5 – EARTHQUAKE NOTES
(Notes come from the digital lesson and the book.)
1. Earthquake – _________________movements that occur when blocks of rock in
Earth___________________ suddenly and release __________________.
2. Focus - is a place within ___________________ along the _______________where the first
_____________________________________of an earthquake occurs.
3. Epicenter – a spot directly above the ______________________ on Earth’s _________________________
4. Fault - .is a ______________________ in Earth’s crust along which blocks of rock ____________________.
5. Stress in Earth’s __________________________________ causes earthquakes.
6. The stress is greatest at _____________________________________________ ___________________________.
7. Review plate boundaries by filling in the chart below.
Tectonic plate
boundary
Motion
(arrows)
Stress
Fault that could occur
Description of earthquake
8. Deformation – is the process by which rocks changes_____________________due to _________________________
9. Elastic rebound – the return of rock to its ______________________ shape after _____________________________
10. Most earthquakes occur at or near __________________________________________________________________
11. Some __________________- earthquakes can cause __________________________ of dollars in property damage.
They cause _____________________ injury and loss of ____________________. Areas closest to the
_____________________________ experience the __________________________- damage.
THE INFORMATION FOR NUMBERS 12 AND 13 ARE NOT IN THE BOOK
12. Seismic waves are vibrations or shock waves that travel through the Earth carrying the energy released by the
earthquake. They move like ripples in a pond. The energy from the earthquake is greatest at the epicenter.
13. There are three categories of seismic waves: P waves, S waves, and L waves. An earthquake sends out two types of
waves from its focus: P waves and S waves. When these waves reach Earth’s surface at the epicenter, surface waves
develop.
Primary waves (P)
Secondary waves (S)
Speed
(First or second
from the focus.)
Surface waves (L)
Do not travel
through the
Earth.
Motion
Effect on buildings
Can travel through
solids or liquids or
both.
Do not travel
through the
Earth. They are
produced on the
surface.
14. Below are some of the effects of seismic waves released by the earthquake.
a. The ________________________ of an earthquake can cause structures to __________________ vertically
and ________________________________. Buildings can shake so _____________________ that a
total or partial ________________________________ can happen.
b. Much ___________________ or __________________ of life is caused by ____________________________
that collapse. In addition, fires, _______________________________, floods and _________________
_______________________________ can cause secondary damage.
c. A ___________________________________ is huge wave caused by an earthquake in or near the ocean.
The earthquake on the sea floor displaces enormous amount of water. Floods, polluted
_____________________________________ supplies and large amounts of ____________________are
common.
Summary of the Lesson - Earthquakes
Earthquakes are often caused by plate interactions along fault lines, due to deformation
and elastic rebound. They also can be caused by volcanic activity.
A focus is the spot within Earth where an earthquake originates.
The epicenter is the place on the surface of Earth above the focus.
A Tsunami is a huge wave produced by an earthquake in the ocean.
There are 3 types of seismic wave; primary (P) waves, secondary (S)waves and surface
waves(L).