Earthquakes
Pages 246-254
Vocabulary
1. crust - the Earth’s thinnest, outermost layer
2. plates - gigantic, moving slabs of rock that forms Earth’s crust
3. fault - a break or crack in Earth’s crust where two plates come together
4. earthquake – movements in Earth’s crust caused by a sudden shift of Earth’s plates along
faults
5. creep – slow movement along faults
6. tsunami – a giant ocean wave caused by earthquakes on the ocean floor
Facts to Know:
 The Earth is made up of layers.
 Breaks or cracks in Earth’s crust where plates come together are called faults.
 Plates fit together like pieces of a puzzle, and are always moving.
 Movement along faults can be a slow creep or a sudden shift.
 When plates shift suddenly, an earthquake may occur.
 Mountains and volcanoes can also form as plates move.
 Most earthquakes happen at faults, where Earth’s plates meet.
 There are three types of faults: normal fault, reverse fault, and strike-slip fault.
 The vibrations of an earthquake are the strongest where the earthquake first begins
below the ground.
 The vibrations of an earthquake travel away from the center.
 Tsunamis are usually caused by earthquakes on the ocean floor.
 When a tsunami hits, move to higher ground.
Normal Fault
Reverse Fault
Strike-Slip Fault