click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Earth science
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Earthquakes | vibrations in the ground that result from movement along breaks in earth's lithosphere. |
Fault | a break in Earth's lithosphere where one block of rock moves toward, away from, or past another. |
Seismic Waves | Energy that travels as vibrations on and in Earth called. |
Focus | seismic waves originate where rocks first move along the fault, at a location inside Earth. |
Epicenter | the location on Earth's surface directly above the earthquake's focus. |
Primary Waves | also called P-Waves cause particles in the ground to move in a push-pull motion similar to a coiled spring. |
Secondary Waves | also called S-Waves they cause particles to move up and down at right angles relative to the direction the wave travels. |
Surface Waves | cause particles in the ground to move up and down in a rolling motion. |
Seismologists | scientists that study Earthquakes. |
Seismometer | measures and records ground motion and can be used to determine the distance seismic waves travel. |
Volcano | a vent in Earth's crust through which melted or molten rock flows. |
Magma | molten rock below Earth's surface. |
Lava | molten rock that erupts onto Earth's surface. |
Hot Spots | Volcanoes that are not associated with plate boundaries |
Shield Volcanoes | common along divergent plate boundaries and oceanic hot spots. |