Earthquakes simple worksheet | KS3-4 geography | Teachit - Free Printable

Task 1: Matching Words with Meanings

We need to match each term on the left with its correct definition on the right.

#### Definitions:
1. Richter Scale: The scale on which the strength of the earthquake is measured.
2. Magnitude: How strong an earthquake is.
3. Focus: The place in the earth where rocks are moving.
4. Epicentre: The point at the surface above the focus.
5. After-shock: Smaller earthquakes after the main, large one.
6. Seismometer: An instrument to measure the strength of the earthquake.

#### Matched Pairs:
- 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.

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Task 2: Rearranging Statements

The statements explain how earthquakes happen. We need to arrange them in the correct order (1 to 5).

#### Statements:
A. This pressure is suddenly released in a jerky movement.
B. Earthquakes occur at plate margins.
C. The plates sometimes lock, causing pressure to build up.
D. This release of pressure is called an earthquake.
E. As the plates move past each other at the margins, the movement is not smooth.

#### Logical Order:
1. B. Earthquakes occur at plate margins.
- This sets the context for where earthquakes happen.
2. E. As the plates move past each other at the margins, the movement is not smooth.
- Explains the initial friction and movement between plates.
3. C. The plates sometimes lock, causing pressure to build up.
- Describes what happens when the plates get stuck and pressure accumulates.
4. A. This pressure is suddenly released in a jerky movement.
- Explains the sudden release of built-up pressure.
5. D. This release of pressure is called an earthquake.
- Concludes by defining the event as an earthquake.

#### Correct Order:
1. B
2. E
3. C
4. A
5. D

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Task 3: Studying the Diagram and Answering Questions

The diagram shows an earthquake with the epicentre, focus, and fault line. We need to answer the following questions:

#### Question A:
Where would the earthquake be felt most strongly – the forest or the town? Explain your answer.

- Answer: The earthquake would be felt more strongly in the town because the epicentre is located directly beneath the town. The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus (the point where the earthquake originates). Since the town is closer to the epicentre compared to the forest, it will experience stronger shaking.

#### Question B:
The depth of the focus varies. Explain how the effects of the earthquake would be different if the focus were deeper in the crust.

- Answer: If the focus were deeper in the crust, the effects of the earthquake would generally be less severe at the surface. Deeper earthquakes have their energy spread out over a larger area as the seismic waves travel through more material before reaching the surface. This results in weaker shaking at the surface compared to shallow earthquakes, where the energy is released closer to the ground and affects a smaller, more concentrated area.

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Final Answers:

#### Task 1:
- 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.

#### Task 2:
1. B
2. E
3. C
4. A
5. D

#### Task 3:
A. The earthquake would be felt more strongly in the town because the epicentre is directly beneath it.
B. If the focus were deeper in the crust, the effects of the earthquake would be less severe at the surface due to the spreading of seismic waves over a larger area.

Final Answer:
\boxed{
\text{Task 1: Richter Scale → The scale on which the strength of the earthquake is measured.} \\
\text{Magnitude → How strong an earthquake is.} \\
\text{Focus → The place in the earth where rocks are moving.} \\
\text{Epicentre → The point at the surface above the focus.} \\
\text{After-shock → Smaller earthquakes after the main, large one.} \\
\text{Seismometer → An instrument to measure the strength of the earthquake.} \\
\text{Task 2: 1. B, 2. E, 3. C, 4. A, 5. D} \\
\text{Task 3: A. The earthquake would be felt more strongly in the town because the epicentre is directly beneath it.} \\
\text{B. If the focus were deeper in the crust, the effects of the earthquake would be less severe at the surface due to the spreading of seismic waves over a larger area.}
}