Target Vocabulary
· deformation – alteration of form or shape
· earthquake – a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin
· energy – usable power that comes from heat, electricity, and so on
· fault – a fracture in the crust of a planet (as Earth) or moon accompanied by a displacement of one side of the fracture with respect to the other usually in a direction parallel to the fracture
· magma – hot liquid rock below Earth’s surface
· magnitude – a number that shows the power of an earthquake
· rebound – to bounce back off something after hitting it
· seismic – of, relating to, or caused by an earthquake
· stress – physical force or pressure
· tectonic – of or relating to changes in the structure of Earth's surface
· tremor – a shaking movement of the ground before or after an earthquake
· tsunami – a very high, large wave in the ocean that is usually caused by an earthquake under the sea and that can cause great destruction when it reaches land
Classroom Connections
· What is an earthquake?
· What is a tsunami?
· What causes stress at faults?
· How does elastic rebound result in seismic waves?
· What are the job responsibilities of a physicist or seismologist?
1. Earthquakes may happen when rock breaks along cracks in Earth’s crust.
These cracks in the crust are called ______.
2. Waves of energy generated by an earthquake that travel through earth are called ______.
3. The point on Earth’s surface where the earthquake is the strongest and most damaging is called the ______.
4. The area under Earth’s surface where rock is stressed until it breaks and starts an earthquake is called the ______.
5. What does the Richter Scale tell us about an earthquake?
6. Explain why it is important to be able to predict where or when earthquakes may happen.
______