Earthquake USGS WebQuest
Part I:
Go to http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/kids/eqscience.php
Each answer should be a minimum of 3-4 complete sentences. Please put into your own words. Include all
important vocabulary.
1. What is an earthquake?
 foreshock:
 mainshock
 aftershock:
2. What causes earthquakes and where do they happen?
3. Why does the earth shake when there is an earthquake?
4. How are earthquakes recorded?
5. How do scientists measure the size of earthquakes?
6. Describe P waves.
7. Describe S waves.
8. How can scientists tell where the earthquake happened?
9. Can scientists predict earthquakes?
Part II:
Geography4Kids WebQuest Earthquakes
Navigate to: http://www.geography4kids.com/files/earth_faulting.html
1. What happens when two plates meet?
2. Describe folding:
3. Describe faulting:
4. What are dip slips? What does your textbook call dip slips?
5. What is a strike slip?
6. What causes earthquakes?
7. What can earthquakes do to change the landscape?
8. Why can we feel earthquakes hundreds of miles away?
9. Now take the quiz on earthquakes.
Part III:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
1. Using the world map, where do you see the most earthquakes?
2. Where and when was the most recent earthquake? What was its magnitude?
3. Now click on the US map. Where do you see the most earthquakes?
4. Where and when was the most recent earthquake? What was its magnitude?
5. What was the highest magnitude in the past 7 days? Where and when?
Click on this site. It should highlight blue. Scroll down the page and find the site in the chart, click on the site. It
will direct you to a page about the location.
6. Write a summary paragraph of the site. This should include what type of plate boundary it is, the speed of the
plate, and why there are earthquakes at this specific site.
Part IV:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/
For this part, you will identify an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 or higher through investigating history.
First type the site that is listed above. You will see at the top of the site, years 2013 through 2002. Look through
those years and choose two sites with a magnitude of 7.0. Write a paragraph summary of the site. You will need
to have in the paragraph: magnitude, date of event, location of event, and why you chose this site.