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Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics

Terms

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Plate Tectonics
Theory that the Earth's crust and part of the upper mantle are broken into sections
Lithosphere
The rigid layer of Earth about 100 km thick, made of the crust and a part of the upper mantle
Normal Fault
Break in rock caused by tension forces where rocks above the fault surface moves down relative to rock below the fault surface
Secondary Wave
Wave which causes rock particles to move at right angles to the direction of wave travel, the second wave to pass through the earth after an earthquake
Asthenosphere
Plasticlike layer of Earth on which the lithospheric plates float and move around
Tsunami
Ocean waves caused by earthquakes, also known as seismic sea waves
Liquifaction
Occurs when wet soil acts more like a liquid during an earthquake
Surface Wave
Wave which causes rock particles to move in a backward rolling and side to side swaying motion, this is the most destructive earthquake wave
Seismograph
Instrument that measures the seismic waves from an earthquake
Seismic Wave
Waves created by Earthquakes
Reverse Fault
Break in rock caused by compression forces where rock above the fault surface moves upward relative to the rock below the fault surface
Fault
Surface along which rocks move and break
Focus
Point below the Earth's surface where energy is release during an earthquake
Epicenter
The point on the Earth's surface directly above the earthquake focus
Magnitude
Measure of the energy that is released during an earthquake
Primary Wave
Wave which causes rock particles to move back and forth in the same direction the wave is traveling, the first wave to pass through after an earthquake
Strike Slip Fault
Break in rock caused by shear forces where rocks slide past each other without much vertical movement
Convection Current
The entire cycle of heating, rising, cooling and sinking that occurs in the mantle
Plates
Large section of Earth's oceanic or continental crust and rigid upper mantle that moves around on the asthenoshpere
Earthquake
Vibrations produced when rocks break along a fault

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