how are earthquakes made
Answer (1)
Tectonic Plates:The Earth's outermost layer, the crust, is broken into about 15 major slabs called tectonic plates. Plate Movement:These plates are constantly moving, but they get stuck at their edges due to friction. Stress Buildup:As the plates move, stress builds up along the edges where they meet. Faults:These stress-filled edges are called fault lines, which are fractures in the Earth's crust where the plates move relative to each other. Sudden Release of Energy:When the stress exceeds the strength of the rocks, the plates suddenly slip past each other along a fault, releasing stored energy in the form of seismic waves. Earthquake:These seismic waves travel through the Earth and cause the ground to shake, resulting in an earthquake. Focus and Epicenter:The point where the earthquake rupture starts beneath the Earth's surface is called the focus (or hypocenter), and the point directly above it on the surface is called the epicenter.
