75 Questions
What causes earthquakes along tectonic plates and intraplate faults?
Fault motion
Which type of fault is characterized by plates sliding past each other horizontally?
Strike-slip fault
What natural disaster is often triggered by underwater earthquakes?
Tsunamis
What theory explains why the ground shakes during an earthquake?
Elastic rebound theory
What is the fifth step in a typical tectonic earthquake sequence?
Aftershocks
How do tectonic plates interact with each other at a fault line?
Slide past each other
Which layers of Earth experience seismic wave travel during an earthquake?
Crust and mantle
What type of fault is associated with compressional stress causing one block of rock to move up and over another block?
Reverse fault
What is released when a fault ruptures during an earthquake?
Energy or pressure
What is the location on Earth's surface directly above the focus called?
Epicenter
Which of the following regions is NOT one of the three main regions where most earthquakes occur?
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
What type of seismic wave travels the fastest and moves longitudinally?
P-waves
Which seismic wave is considered the most damaging?
Rayleigh waves
What is the scale used to measure the size and strength of an earthquake called?
Richter scale
What is the term used to describe the location where two tectonic plates meet?
Fault
Which of the following is NOT a cause of minor earthquakes?
Tidal forces
What is the term used to describe the largest quake in a series of earthquakes?
Mainshock
What type of device is used to measure seismic activity and create a seismogram?
Both A and B
Which of the following is the most accurate scale for measuring the size and strength of an earthquake?
Moment magnitude scale (MMO)
What are the four distinct types of volcanoes?
Composite Cone, Shield Cone, Cinder Cone, and Lava Dome
Which type of volcano is considered the most explosive?
Composite Cone
What factor primarily determines the viscosity of lava?
The concentration of silica
Which type of lava has a low viscosity due to its low silica and high iron and magnesium content?
Mafic lava
What is the most common gas emitted during a volcanic eruption?
Water vapor
How can volcanic gases contribute to global warming?
By trapping heat emitted from the Earth's surface and forcing it to return to the Earth
What type of lava flow morphology is characterized by a smooth, ropy surface?
Pahoehoe lava flow
What are pyroclastic flows?
Dense collections of rock fragments, ash, and gases resulting from highly explosive eruptions
Which type of lava flow is associated with the formation of lava domes?
Felsic lava flow
What is the primary factor that determines the eruptive style of a volcano?
The composition of the lava
What is the primary purpose of the Richter scale?
To measure the intensity or magnitude of earthquakes
Which of the following statements about the Richter scale is true?
It is a logarithmic scale, where each unit increase represents a ten-fold increase in earthquake intensity.
Why was the moment magnitude scale developed?
To better measure the intensity of medium to high-magnitude earthquakes
Which of the following is NOT a type of damage that can be caused by earthquakes?
Tsunamis, if the earthquake occurs on land
What is the process that leads to volcanic eruptions?
Hot magma and gases building up pressure and pushing through the crust
What is the difference between magma and lava?
Magma is the molten rock found inside the Earth, while lava is the molten rock that has erupted onto the surface.
Which of the following is NOT a type of volcanic eruption mentioned in the text?
Krakatoan
What is the study of volcanoes and their eruptions called?
Volcanology
What is the primary factor that determines the shape and characteristics of a volcano?
The type of volcano
What is the term used for the movement of the Earth's surface due to the breaking apart of rocks underneath?
Seismic activity
What causes earthquakes to occur?
Motion along a fault
What are the three main types of faults?
Strike-slip, normal, and reverse
What is the primary factor that determines the eruptive style of a volcano?
The composition of the magma
What is the first step in a typical tectonic earthquake sequence?
The fault ruptures
Which of the following seismic waves travel through the interior of the Earth?
P-waves and S-waves
What is the theory that explains why the ground shakes during an earthquake?
Elastic rebound theory
What is the outermost layer of the Earth made of?
Tectonic plates
What is the term used to describe the location where two tectonic plates meet?
Fault line
What natural disaster is often triggered by underwater earthquakes?
Tsunamis
What is the fifth step in a typical tectonic earthquake sequence?
Aftershocks
What distinguishes composite cone volcanoes from lava dome volcanoes?
Eruptive style
How do viscous lavas differ from fluid lavas in terms of explosiveness?
Viscous lavas trap gases
What is the primary gas emitted during a volcanic eruption that can contribute to global warming and be harmful to humans?
Carbon dioxide
How do sulfur dioxide aerosols contribute to environmental effects after a volcanic eruption?
They lead to acid rain
Which type of lava is characterized by high silica content and results in highly explosive eruptions?
Felsic lava
What are pyroclastic flows primarily composed of?
Rock fragments, ash, and gases
Which type of seismic wave travels through the Earth's interior?
Body waves and Surface waves
What type of earthquake is the largest in a series and occurs between foreshocks and aftershocks?
Mainshock
What is the most accurate scale for measuring the size and strength of an earthquake?
Moment Magnitude Scale (MMO)
What causes aftershocks following a main earthquake?
Energy transfer from rocks during a main earthquake
Which type of seismic wave is slower but more damaging than P-waves?
S-waves
What is the purpose of using a seismograph during seismic activity?
To create a seismogram of earthquake movements
Which scale is most useful for measuring mid-range earthquakes and is logarithmic?
Richter-Magnitude Scale
How do geologists determine which quakes are foreshocks, mainshocks, and aftershocks?
Observing the order of quake occurrences on a seismogram
What type of seismic wave moves across the Earth's surface like a wave in the ocean?
Rayleigh waves
In terms of seismic waves, which type originates from the center of an earthquake similar to ripples in water?
Rayleigh waves
What is the primary purpose of the Richter scale?
To measure the intensity of small to medium-sized earthquakes
Which of the following statements about the Richter scale is true?
It is a logarithmic scale
What is the term used to describe the movement of the Earth's surface due to the breaking apart of rocks underneath?
Seismic activity
Why was the moment magnitude scale developed?
To better measure the intensity of medium to high-intensity earthquakes
What is the primary factor that determines the viscosity of lava?
Silica content
Which of the following is the most accurate scale for measuring the size and strength of an earthquake?
Moment magnitude scale
What is the process that leads to volcanic eruptions?
The buildup of pressure from hot magma and gases inside the Earth
What is the term used to describe the largest quake in a series of earthquakes?
Mainshock
Which type of volcano is considered the most explosive?
Composite volcano
What type of seismic wave travels the fastest and moves longitudinally?
P-waves
Explore the causes and effects of earthquakes, including the role of tectonic plates, types of faults, and the occurrence of tsunamis. Learn about the five steps in a typical tectonic earthquake.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
