Seismic Activity and Plate Tectonics

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Questions and Answers

What is the main cause of earthquakes?

  • Tectonic plate movement (correct)
  • Seismic vibrations
  • Friction between the Earth's layers
  • Pressure from volcanic activity

How are fault lines related to earthquakes?

  • Fault lines are caused by seismic vibrations
  • Fault lines are not related to earthquakes
  • Fault lines are where earthquakes most commonly occur (correct)
  • Fault lines prevent earthquakes from happening

What instrument is used to measure earthquakes?

  • Magnetometer
  • Barometer
  • Thermometer
  • Seismograph (correct)

What is the recording made by a seismograph called?

<p>Seismogram (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is another name for a seismograph?

<p>Seismometer (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do earthquakes occur deep underground?

<p>Due to tectonic plate movement (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a seismometer measure?

<p>Seismic vibrations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of seismic waves do the most shaking on the Earth's surface?

<p>Surface waves (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of waves only travel through solid materials and move in an up-and-down motion similar to waves in the ocean?

<p>S-waves (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scale uses the logarithm (base 10) of the amplitude of the largest wave created by the earthquake on the seismograph?

<p>Richter Scale (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a seismogram?

<p>To gather information on earthquakes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of waves travel through the Earth's interior and not along its surface?

<p>P-waves (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of earthquake is considered to be a medium to a strong earthquake if measured at 6.1 on the Richter scale?

<p>Medium earthquake (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scale is preferred over the Richter scale, especially for high-magnitude earthquakes, as it is based on seismic movement rather than wave amplitude?

<p>Moment Magnitude Scale (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to refer to the size and strength of an earthquake?

<p>Magnitude (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main cause of seismic activity?

<p>The movement of the Earth's tectonic plates (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a seismograph?

<p>To measure ground-shaking activity caused by earthquakes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of waves does a seismometer detect?

<p>Seismic waves caused by earthquakes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are fault lines and earthquakes related?

<p>Fault lines are where earthquakes most commonly occur (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What causes a disturbance to the Earth's surface, resulting in earthquakes?

<p>The movement of tectonic plates (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are earthquakes measured?

<p>Using a seismograph or seismometer (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of studying seismic activity?

<p>To understand earthquake patterns and potential risks (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between P-waves and S-waves?

<p>P-waves move in an up-and-down motion, while S-waves move longitudinally. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of seismic waves causes the most damage on the Earth's surface?

<p>Rayleigh waves (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Richter Scale measure?

<p>Earthquake magnitude (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the moment magnitude scale preferred over the Richter scale for high-magnitude earthquakes?

<p>It uses seismic movement rather than wave amplitude. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are seismograms used for?

<p>Determining earthquake location and strength (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of seismic waves travel through the Earth's interior and not along its surface?

<p>P-waves (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic motion of love waves on the Earth's surface?

<p>Snake-like motion (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of seismic waves move along the Earth's surface and cause the most damage during an earthquake?

<p>Rayleigh waves (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scale measures earthquakes using the logarithm (base 10) of the amplitude of the largest wave created by the earthquake on the seismograph?

<p>Richter Scale (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the moment magnitude scale (MMO) in measuring earthquakes?

<p>It measures seismic movement rather than wave amplitude (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of seismic waves travels through the Earth's interior and not along its surface?

<p>P-waves (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic motion of love waves on the Earth's surface?

<p>Horizontal motion (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Richter Scale categorize earthquakes with respect to magnitude?

<p>Based on wave amplitude (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scale ranges from 1-10 where a value of 1 represents a weak earthquake and a 10 represents an extremely strong earthquake?

<p>Richter Scale (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between P-waves and S-waves?

<p>Direction of movement (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What instrument records ground-shaking activity caused by earthquakes on the Earth's surface?

<p>Seismometer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What causes a disturbance to the Earth's surface, resulting in earthquakes?

<p>Tectonic plate movement (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a seismometer?

<p>Detect underground vibrations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of seismic waves only travel through solid materials and move in an up-and-down motion similar to waves in the ocean?

<p>Surface waves (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the moment magnitude scale preferred over the Richter scale for high-magnitude earthquakes?

<p>It provides a more accurate measure of earthquake size (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior and not along its surface called?

<p>P-waves (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of studying seismic activity?

<p>Determining earthquake patterns and trends (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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