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Earth Science
Earthquakes & Seismic Waves
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Earthquake | A vibration of the Earth produced by the rapid release of energy |
| Focus | The point within the Earth where the earthquake starts |
| Epicenter | The location on the surface directly above the focus |
| Elastic rebound | The rocks/plates snap back into an unbent position |
| Aftershock | The movement that follows a major earthquake (smaller earthquakes) |
| Foreshock | Small earthquakes before major earthquake |
| Intensity | Measures the amount of shaking at a particular...farther from focus=less! |
| Magnitude | Measures the size of the earthquake at its source...no distance factor |
| Mercalli Scale | Measures intensity based on observed effects of quake on Earths surface, humans, & manmade structures. |
| Richter Scale | Measures earthquake energy from seismic waves using a seismograph |
| Seismograph | Instrument for recording earthquakes |
| Seismogram | The data out put (recording) of seismograph |
| Wave | A disturbance that transmits (moves) energy through a material |
| Transverse Wave | Wave and particle motion are perpendicular |
| Longitudinal Wave | Wave and particle motion are parallel |
| Medium | Material through which a wave moves |
| Crest | Upward displacement |
| Trough | Downward displacement |
| Amplitude | Displacement from rest |
| Wavelength | Distance between consecutive waves |
| P waves | Primary body wave (earthquake); fastest; least damage; push & pull; longitudinal wave |
| S waves | Secondary body waves; transverse; shake and shear |
| Surface Waves | Slowest of the waves; most destructive |
| Travel-time graph | Use delay to find distance from earthquake epicenter |
| Trangulation | Locating epicenter |