Basic Concepts
What is an earthquake?
A sudden movement of the Earth's crust.
Large pieces of the Earth's crust whose movement causes earthquakes.
Tectonic plates
Strong ground movement
Shaking
The first thing you should do during an earthquake: Drop, Cover, and
Hold on
The country where a devastating earthquake occurred in 2010 in the Caribbean.
Haiti
What is the focus?
The point inside the Earth where an earthquake begins.
Place where two plates meet
Fault
It can happen in buildings when there is an earthquake.
Structural damage
You should stay away from this because it can break and fall
Windows
The Asian country hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
Japan
What is the epicenter?
The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.
Type of boundary where two plates meet
Convergent limit
A giant ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake.
is a tsunami
Something important you should have ready before an earthquake
An emergency kit
The U.S. state famous for frequent earthquakes.
California
What is the Richter scale?
The scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake.
Type of boundary where plates separate
Divergent Limit
Lines or breaks that appear on streets or floors after an earthquake.
Cracks in the ground
A safe place you can go after an earthquake.
An open area
The Colombian city heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1999.
Armenia
What is a seismograph?
The instrument used to record seismic waves.
Boundary where the plates slowly slide
Transform limit
Small earthquakes that occur after the main one.
Aftershocks
A practice activity to prepare students for earthquakes
Earthquake drill
The country where the strongest recorded earthquake
(9.5)
Chile