Name: 
 

Earthquakes Short Study Guide



Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

1. 

____ and the amount of strain released during the last quake are used in earthquake probability studies.
a.
Seismic belts
c.
Fault scarps
b.
Strain accumulation
d.
Tsunamis
 

2. 

On a seismometer, vibrations of the ground do not move the ____.
a.
frame
c.
recording drum
b.
spring
d.
suspended mass
 

3. 

A ____ fault forms as a result of horizontal compression.
a.
blind
c.
strike-slip
b.
normal
d.
reverse
 

4. 

The San Andreas Fault, a result of horizontal shear, is a ____ fault.
a.
blind
c.
strike-slip
b.
normal
d.
reverse
 

5. 

The locations of seismic belts are determined by plotting ____.
a.
earthquake epicenters
c.
earthquake foci
b.
seismic gaps
d.
epicentral distances
 

6. 

A numerical scale of earthquake magnitude that takes into account the size of the fault rupture is the ____.
a.
Richter scale
c.
moment magnitude scale
b.
modified Mercalli scale
d.
epicentral distance scale
 

7. 

Deaths associated with earthquake deaths in sloping areas can result from ____.
a.
tsunamis
c.
formation of fault scarps
b.
landslides
d.
surface ruptures
 

Matching
 
 
Match each item with the correct description below. You may use a term more than once.
a.
surface wave
b.
P-wave
c.
S-wave
 

8. 

Does not pass through Earth’s liquid outer core
 

9. 

Does not pass through Earth’s interior at all
 

10. 

Squeezes and pulls rocks in same direction as the save travels
 

11. 

Is refracted by Earth’s core
 

12. 

Absence of this kind of waves results in a shadow zone
 

Short Answer
 

13. 

Explain the relationship between elastic strain, ductile deformation, and failure.
 

14. 

Explain how earthquake magnitude differs from intensity, and which value is more important to a community.
 

15. 

In terms of strain, explain why an earthquake is more likely at a seismic gap than at another location.
 

16. 

What are the two main factors that determine the probability that an earthquake will occur, and why are they important?
 
 
Compare and contrast each pair of related terms or phrases.
 

17. 

primary wave, secondary wave
 

18. 

Richter scale, moment-magnitude scale
 
 
Study the diagram. Then answer the questions.

earthquakes_short_files/i0240000.jpg
 

19. 

Describe what the graph shows. Then identify what the straight and curved segments of the line represent.
 

20. 

Explain how scientists have inferred the physical states of Earth’s inner and outer cores using seismic data.
 

21. 

Describe the global pattern of earthquake distribution and what causes it.
 
 
An earthquake occurred, and seismic waves were detected by seismic stations A and B as shown below. Examine the diagram and the travel-time graph. Then answer the questions.

earthquakes_short_files/i0280000.jpg

earthquakes_short_files/i0280001.jpg
 

22. 

About how long did it take for the first P-waves to reach station A?
 

23. 

About how long did it take for the first S-waves to reach station A?
 

24. 

About how long did it take for the first P-waves to reach station B?
 

25. 

Can the exact location of the earthquake be determined from the data reported by the two stations? Why or why not?
 
 
Based on the observations and related facts from the Completion section, how should the scientist answer the following questions? Support your answers with the appropriate observations and related facts about earthquakes.
 

26. 

Does the town have a high probability of experiencing an earthquake in the near future?
 

27. 

Should the proposed road system go through as planned? If not, what do you suggest should be done differently?
 

28. 

Compared to existing ones, how should the construction of new structures be altered, and why?
 

29. 

How might existing structures built in the newer part of town fare during an earthquake, and why?
 

Problem
 

30. 

A single earthquake produced seismograms at two different stations, A and B, as shown below.

earthquakes_short_files/i0390000.jpg

earthquakes_short_files/i0390001.jpg

Which station was closer to the earthquake, and how can you tell? Use the travel-time curve to estimate the distance from each station to the earthquake’s epicenter.
 



 
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