Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Inside Earth Book Vocabulary
Chapter 2/Sections 2&3
15
Science
8th Grade
07/01/2005

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
focus
Definition
the point beneath Earth's surface where rock breaks under stress and causes an earthquake
Term
epicenter
Definition
the point on Earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus
Term
seismic waves
Definition
vibrations that travel through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
Term
P waves
Definition
a type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the ground
Term
S waves
Definition
a type of seismic wave that moves the ground up and down or side to side
Term
surface waves
Definition
types of seismic waves that form when P waves and S waves reach Earth's surface
Term
seismograph
Definition
a device that records ground movements caused by seismic waves as they move through Earth
Term
magnitude
Definition
the measurement of an earthquake's strength based on seismic waves and movement along faults
Term
Mercalli scale
Definition
a scale that rates earthquakes according to their intensity and how much damage they cause
Term
Richter scale
Definition
a scale that rates seismic waves as measured by a particular type of mechanical seismograph
Term
moment magnitude scale
Definition
a scale that rates earthquakes by estimating the total energy released by an earthquake
Term
liquefaction
Definition
the process by which an earthquake's violent movement suddenly turns loose soil into liquid mud
Term
aftershock
Definition
an earthquake that occurs after a larger earthquake in the same area
Term
tsunamis
Definition
large waves produced by an earthquake on the ocean floor
Term
base-isolated building
Definition
a building mounted on bearings designed to absorb the energy of an earthquake
Supporting users have an ad free experience!