Earthquake Concepts and Terminology

Front

The shaking or trembling of the earth caused by the sudden release of seismic energy.

Back

What is an earthquake?

Front

Earthquakes are a result of gradual accumulation and release of stress and strain, proposed by Henry Fielding Reid after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Back

What is the Elastic Rebound Theory?

Front

A break or fracture between two blocks of rock.

Back

What is a Fault?

Front

Where the first break/fault/movement takes place inside the Earth's crust; the origin of earthquakes.

Back

What is the Focus of an earthquake?

Front

The spot above the hypocenter on the surface of the Earth.

Back

What is the Epicenter?

Front

A device that records seismic waves, magnitude, and detects earthquakes.

Back

What is a Seismograph?

Front

A device that only has the capability to detect earth shaking.

Back

What is a Seismometer?

Front

A record of an earthquake produced by the seismograph.

Back

What is a Seismogram?

Front

By the physical size of an earthquake/seismic energy released, typically measured on a scale of 1-10.

Back

How is Magnitude measured?

Front

A scale that measures an earthquake's magnitude using the largest seismic wave's amplitude and time, developed by Charles Francis Richter.

Back

What is the Richter Scale?