Earthquake Basics

Fault lines are fracture lines along broken rocks that move.

Rocks pushing on each other, pulling apart from each other, or rubbing together cause seismic activity.

Foreshocks are ground shaking events that occur before the main earthquake.

<p>Aftershocks can be dangerous because they happen unpredictably days or weeks after the main earthquake, and structures may already be damaged and unable to handle more shaking.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a larger earthquake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Aftershocks are caused by the transfer of energy when tectonic plates slip during an earthquake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A foreshock is a smaller earthquake that occurs before a larger earthquake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>No, foreshocks cannot predict earthquakes. It is impossible to know if a foreshock is a foreshock or a mainshock when it occurs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A foreshock is a smaller earthquake that occurs prior to the mainshock in the same region.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs following a mainshock in the same region.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Foreshocks and aftershocks are smaller in magnitude than mainshocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>No, it is not possible to predict an earthquake by measuring seismic activity from a foreshock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Foreshocks are the energy release and ground shaking before an earthquake, while aftershocks are the energy release and ground shaking after an earthquake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Foreshocks are smaller in magnitude compared to aftershocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>No, foreshocks are usually too small and too close to the time of the main quake to help predict the main quake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Aftershocks can continue to do damage because structures like buildings and roads are already rattled from the previous shaking event.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A foreshock is a smaller quake that occurs prior to the mainshock, while an aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs following a mainshock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Geologists use machines called seismographs to measure the strength of earthquakes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The mainshock of an earthquake is the largest quake in a series, and occurs between a foreshock and aftershock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Aftershocks may be so strong that they're stronger than the main quake, and they can continue to do damage to an area that has already been hit by the main quake.</p> Signup and view all the answers