Why do earthquakes happen?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the causes of earthquakes, which relates to geological processes, tectonic plate movements, and the release of stress along faults in the Earth's crust.
Answer
Earthquakes happen due to the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, creating seismic waves.
The final answer is that earthquakes happen due to the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, which creates seismic waves.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that earthquakes happen due to the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, which creates seismic waves.
More Information
The energy release typically occurs because of stress that causes rocks to break or move along fault lines. The point where the earthquake starts is called the focus, and the point directly above it on the surface is the epicenter.
Tips
A common misconception is that all earthquakes occur at tectonic plate boundaries. While most do, intraplate earthquakes can happen within a plate due to stress.
Sources
- USGS Earthquake Information - usgs.gov
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