earthquakes. what is an earthquake? the shaking and trembling that results from the sudden movement...

EarthquakesEarthquakes

What is an earthquake?What is an earthquake?

The shaking and trembling that results from the sudden movement of part of the Earth’s crust.

FaultFault

A break or crack in Earth’s crust along which movement has occurred.

Focus / EpicenterFocus / Epicenter

Focus: The point beneath the earth’s surface where the rocks break and move.

Epicenter: The point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus

Seismic WavesSeismic Waves

P-Waves (Primary Waves): These compression waves travel the fastest and can pass through solids, liquids and gases.

P-wave movie

S-WavesS-Waves

(Secondary Waves) These waves travel slower than P-waves and can travel through solids, but not liquids.

S-wave movie

L-Waves (Surface Waves)L-Waves (Surface Waves)

The slowest and most damaging wave that moves through the earth like an ocean wave.

L-Wave Movie

SeismographSeismograph

This is an instrument detects and measures earthquakes.

TsunamisTsunamisAlso known as Tidal waves, these are ocean

waves created by earthquakes.