Earthquakes

What are the characteristics of primary waves?  

• Particles of P-waves move in a push and pull motion and move the fastest than other waves.  
• Particles of P-waves move up and down in a rolling motion. 
• P-waves do not travel through the outer layer 
• P-waves travel only on Earth's surface. 

What is the purpose of the three points in the center of the circles on the map?  

• They are a plot for predicting earthquake activity.  
• They calculate the speed of seismic waves. 
• They show the mountains most likely to be affected by earthquakes.  
• They are used to locate an earthquake's epicenter.

Which of the following locations is associated with deep earthquakes?  

• convergent plate boundaries 
• divergent plate boundaries 
• normal faults 
• strike-slip faults 

Why are earthquakes common occurrences in California?  

• California is located on a solid granite sheet. 
• California is constantly pounded by waves from the Pacific Ocean. 
• California is located on a tectonic plate boundary. 
• California is built on ancient sand bars from ancient oceans. 

Which earthquakes scale starts at zero, has no upper limit, and reports ground motion?  

• Richter scale 
• moment magnitude scale 
• ground shaking magnitude scale 
• modified mericalli scale 

Readings need to be taken from at least _________ to determine the origin of an earthquake.  

• two stations 
• three stations 
• four stations 
• one station 

How can Earth's plates move?  

• They only move toward each other.
• They only converge or diverge.
• They collide, pull apart, or slide past each other.
• They collide or slide along each other. 

The Modified Mercalli scale measures an earthquake's __________________. 

• magnitude 
• level of destruction 
• strength 
• duration 

Which wave type can pass through the solid inner core?  

• primary 
• seismic 
• secondary 
• surface 

A ___________ is used to measure seismic waves. 

• barometer 
• seismometer 
• seismogram 
• seismologist