Earthquake Guided Notes pg. 196
1.
Seismology- study of earthquakes
2. Where do earthquakes occur?
Most happen near edge of tectonic
plates
- Tectonic plates push, pull, or
scrape; stress builds along faults
near plates edges
3. Explain the process of elastic
deformation and elastic rebound and
how they cause earthquakes.
Elastic deformation- leads to
earthquakes; rocks can stretch
farther than steel without breaking;
it will break at some point
- Example- rubber band; rubber
bands can break
- Elastic rebound- sudden return of
elastically deformed rock to its
original shape.
- When this occurs more stress is
applied to the rock than it can
withstand
- During this time, rocks release
energy that causes an earthquake.
4. How do earthquakes travel?
Energy releases because of elastic
rebound; it comes in the form of a
seismic wave
5. Seismic waves- waves of energy
that travel through the Earth
6. What are the two types of body
waves? Body waves travel through
the Earth’s interior
a. P-waves (Primary Waves)
b. S-waves (Secondary Waves)
7. P-waves: Define, explain how fast
they move and what is the other
name for these waves. Primary
waves travel through solids, liquids,
and gases; they are the fastest
seismic waves; they move through
all parts of the Earth; they are
detected first (that is why they are
called primary waves.
- These waves squeeze together as
they move
8. S-waves: Define, explain how fast
they move and what is the other
name for these waves. Secondary
Waves are the second fastest seismic
waves; rock back and forth
- S-waves cannot travel through
parts of the Earth that are all liquid
9. Surface waves: Define and explain
how these waves do to the earth.
Seismic Waves that travel along the
Earth surface (they move the ground
up and down)
- They travel slower than the body
wave and are more destructive
- People say at times they feel like
they are on a roller coaster.
Earthquake Measurement pg. 202
Seismologist- person that studies
earthquakes
1. Seismograph- instrument located
at or near the surface of the Earth
that record seismic waves
2. Seismogram- tracing of
earthquake motion created by a
seismograph
3. Epicenter- point on the Earth’s
surface directly above an
earthquakes starting point
4. Focus- point inside the Earth
where an earthquake begins
5. Richter scale- 2.0-10.0
- Above 4 start getting damage, felt
just in the area
- 5 is damage at the epicenter
- 6-7 is severe damage
- Above 7 you have significant
damage
- Each earthquake measurement
goes up by powers of 10
Haiti Earthquake- in 2010 had a 7.0 on
the Richter Scale
Japan Earthquake- In the spring of 2011
was an 8.9 on the Richter scale
Chile Earthquake- in 1960, largest ever
recorded earthquake was a 9.5 on the
Richter scale.
6. How is a level 4 earthquake a lot
different than a level 5 earthquake?
10 times more powerful
Earthquakes and Society pg. 205
1. Where in the United States is
most affected by earthquakes?
California and the West Coast of the
United States
2. What are architects doing to make
building more earthquake resistant?
Steel cross, flexible pipes, base
asolators