- Richter Scale: The scale on which the strength of the earthquake is measured
- Magnitude: How strong an earthquake is
- Focus: The place in the earth where rocks are moving
- Epicentre: The point at the surface above the focus
- After-shock: Smaller earthquakes after the main, large one
- Seismometer: An instrument to measure the strength of the earthquake
- B. Earthquakes occur at plate margins.
- E. As the plates move past each other at the margins the movement is not smooth.
- C. The plates sometimes lock, causing pressure to build up.
- A. This pressure is suddenly released in a jerky movement.
- D. This release of pressure is called an earthquake.
- A. The earthquake would be felt most strongly in the town because it is located directly above the epicentre, where the seismic waves reach the surface with the greatest intensity.
- B. If the focus were deeper in the crust, the effects of the earthquake at the surface would generally be less severe because the seismic energy would be dissipated and spread out over a greater distance before reaching the surface.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of earthquake worksheet.
