Chapter 7: Problem 7

What can cause an earthquake, and what are its focus and epicenter?

Short Answer

Expert verified

An earthquake is caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust due to factors such as tectonic plate movements, volcanic activities, or human-induced activities. The focus, also known as the hypocenter, is the initial rupture point beneath the Earth's surface where the energy is first released. The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus, where seismic waves reach the surface and earthquake-related damage is usually most severe.

Step by step solution

Cause of an Earthquake

An earthquake is caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, resulting in the creation of seismic waves. This release of energy happens due to various factors such as tectonic plate movements, volcanic activities, and even human-induced activities like mining or underground nuclear testing.

Focus of an Earthquake

The focus (or hypocenter) of an earthquake is the point at which the initial rupture occurs beneath the Earth's surface, where the energy is first released. It can be located at various depths; shallow-focus earthquakes occur at depths less than 70 kilometers, intermediate-focus earthquakes occur between 70 and 300 kilometers, and deep-focus earthquakes occur at depths greater than 300 kilometers.

Epicenter of an Earthquake

The epicenter of an earthquake is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the focus. It's the point where seismic waves reach the surface and where earthquake-related damage is typically most severe due to its proximity to the source of the released energy. To locate the epicenter, scientists analyze seismic waves recorded by seismographs and triangulate their origins using the differences in arrival times and wave patterns.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

What can cause an earthquake, and what are its focus and epicenter?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Cause of an Earthquake

Focus of an Earthquake

Epicenter of an Earthquake

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

Ecological Conservation

Physical Environment

Sustainability

Living Environment

Environmental Research

Energy Resources

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.