Physical Geography 102
Earthquakes Study Guide


After watching the Earth Revealed video "Earthquakes" you should be able to answer and discuss the following questions.

Earthquakes

What are earthquakes?
How are earthquakes generated?
Where do most earthquakes occur? Whith what tectonic features are they associated?

Seismic Waves

What are the three forms of seismic waves discussed in the video?
Of the main two types, which type moves faster?
How is this difference in speed between seismic waves used to determine the distance to the epicenter of the earthquake?
How and with what type of equipment are seismic waves measured?

Magnitudes

What is the magnitude of an earthquake really measuring?
What is the difference in power between a magnitude 3 and a magnitude 4 earthquake?
What is the difference in power between a magnitude 3 and a magnitude 5 earthquake?
What is the difference in power between a magnitude 3 and a magnitude 6 earthquake?
What was the magnitude of the 1964 Alaska earthquake?

Earthquake Building Damage

Why does an earthquake destroy or seriously damage one building, while buildings on either side of it may be undamaged or only slightly damaged?

Earthquake Monitoring and Prediction

What are some of the tools and equipment, besides the seismograph, being used to moniter and predict earthquakes?
Can earthquakes be predicted with any certainty?