EARTHQUAKES

KWL EARTHQUAKESKnow Want to Know Learned

WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE?

An earthquake occurs when two blocks of earth suddenly

slip past one another.

The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault

plane.

The hypocenter is the location below the earth’s surface

where the earthquakes start.

The location directly above it on the surface of the earth

is called the epicenter.

WHAT CAUSES EARTHQUAKES?

 Shifts in the Earth’s tectonic plates cause earthquakes.

Tectonic plates are large pieces of crust that float on top of

molten rock that is below the earths surface.

The Earth’s plates are constantly moving small amounts, a small

slip between plates can cause tiny earthquakes every day.

Sometimes two tectonic plates will press up against each other,

creating pressure. Eventually this pressure becomes too much and

the plates shift over one another, under or from side to side to

release the pressure. This is what causes intense earthquakes

TECTONIC PLATE MAP

RICHTER SCALE

• The scale that scientists use to measure the

magnitude of the earthquakes

• The earthquakes magnitude is measured on

a seismograph.

HOW DO EARTHQUAKES EFFECT THE EARTH?

• Many people may be killed or injured • Homes are destroyed • Water supply may be contaminated by burst pipes• Diseases may spread • High cost of rebuilding • Leads to different natural disasters such as:

• Landslides • Tsunamis • Liquefactions

FAULTS

Example of a normal fault

WHAT TO DO INCASE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

Be prepared with enough food and water for 3-7

days (one gallon a day per person)

A first aid kid

Flashlights

Radios

Fire extinguisher

EARTHQUAKES

Pink- San Francisco

Yellow- Chile

Blue- Tokyo

White- Indonesia

RESEARCH AND ANSWER

Research and answer the following questions about

earthquakes then record your voice on fotobabble• Find a picture of your earthquake • What year did your earthquake occur? • Where did your earthquake occur? • What was your earthquakes magnitude? • Give one interesting fact about your earthquake

EVALUATION

Watch the Bill Nye Earthquakes video and

complete the worksheet.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/natural_haza

rds/earthquakes_rev3.

shtml

http://eqseis.geosc.psu.edu/~cammon/HTML/Classes/IntroQuakes/

Notes/

earthquake_effects.html

http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/earthquakes/

preview.weml

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php

http://www.consrv.ca.gov/index/earthquakes/Pages/

qh_earthquakes_what.aspx