Science Test

________ have the highest velocities. A) Primary waves B) Secondary waves C) Surface waves

A) Primary waves

________ is the maximum possible damage designation on the Mercalli scale. A) XII B) 12 C) X D) 10

A) XII

What kinds of damage are caused by the severe shaking of an earthquake?

Earthquakes can damage or destroy buildings and bridges, topple utility poles, and fracture gas and water mains.

How can earthquakes cause fire and flooding?

Earthquakes can cause fire and flooding by breaking gas pipes and water mains.

Can geologists predict earthquakes?

Even with data from many sources, geologists can't predict when and where a quake will strike.

S waves can travel through solid and liquid media.

False

measures the seismic waves and fault movement that occur during an earthquake measured by a seismograph (magnitude of earthquake)

Richter scale

Explain the folding of Earth's crust.

Rock stressed by compression may bend without breaking which is folding. The anticline is the upward fold and the syncline is the downward fold

shakes buildings violently is a ______ wave.

S

How do scientists tell how far the epicenter is from the seismograph?

Scientists measure the difference between the arrival times of the P waves and S waves.

The point on the surface directly above the focus is the __________________.

epicenter

Because their energy dissipates rapidly in deep ocean waters, tsunamis seldom pose any danger to coastal areas far away from the causative earthquake.

false

What can be done when a new home is being built to help prevent damage caused by liquefaction?

A new home can be anchored to solid rock below the soil.

List four instruments that geologists use to monitor movements along faults.

1. creep meter 2. laser-ranging device 3. tiltmeter 5. GPS satellite

How do earthquakes cause damage?

1. liquefaction 2. aftershocks 3. tsunamis 4. shaking

Explain the damage of earthquakes. 1. liquefaction 2. aftershocks 3. tsunamis 4. shaking

1. turns soil into mud 2. after main earthquake these are little earthquakes that can still do damage 3. a large wave created from seismic waves 4. landslides, and avalanches

What level of magnitude would be considered a weak earthquake?

1.0 is weak

What level of magnitude would be considered a destructive earthquake?

10 is destructive

Which of the following foundation materials is most stable during earthquake shaking? A) bedrock B) unconsolidated moist soil C) water-saturate D) sand and mud

A) bedrock

The ________ is a direct measure of the distance from a seismic receiving station to the focus of a distant earthquake. A) time interval between the first P and S- wave arrivals B) magnitude of the ground acceleration of surface wave passing a receiving station C) time elapsed between the first P-wave arrivals from the first and last aftershocks D) time interval between the first P-wave and the last surface wave

A) time interval between the first P and S- wave arrivals

The Mercalli Scale is a scale from ________. A) 1 to 12 that rates the energy required for faulting to occur B) 1 to 10 that rates the energy released by an earthquake C) I to XII that rates the structural damage due to an earthquake D) I to X that rates the total energy released during the main quake and all aftershocks

C) I to XII that rates the structural damage due to an earthquake

Which one of the following statements is correct? A) P waves travel through solids; S waves do not. B) P and S waves travel through liquids, but P waves do not travel through solids. C) S waves travel through solids and P waves travel through liquids. D) P and S waves travel through liquids, but S waves do not travel through solids.

C) S waves travel through solids and P waves travel through liquids.

Which one of the following statements concerning the focus and epicenters is correct? A) The focus is the faulted point on the surface directly above the epicenter. B) The fault first cracks at the epicenter and breaks through to the surface at the focus. C) The epicenter is at the surface directly above the focus where the earthquake initiates. D) The earthquake starts at the focus and the rupture extends down to the epicenter.

C) The epicenter is at the surface directly above the focus where the earthquake initiates.

On a typical seismogram, ________ will show the highest amplitudes. A) P waves B) S waves C) surface waves

C) surface waves

Approximately how much more energy is released in a 6.5 Richter magnitude earthquake than in one with magnitude 5.5? A) 3000 times B) 3 times C) 300 times D) 30 times

D) 30 times

What are the steps to earthquake safety?

Drop, Cover, Hold

How much does the energy increase between each point on the scale when comparing magnitude?

Each one-point increase in magnitude represents the release of roughly 32 times more energy.

A device that bounces radio waves off the ground to detect changes in elevation is a(n)

GPS satellite

Uses radar to make images of faults

GPS satellite

What two factors do geologists take into account when they determine earthquake risk?

Geologists take into account where faults are active and where past earthquakes have occurred.

How can a brick or wood-frame building be modified to help it withstand an earthquake?

It can be modified by reinforcing the walls and frame.

gives the rating of the earthquake depending on the damage done in the area (measure by observation along the faults)

Mercalli scale

List the three scales that are used for measuring earthquakes.

Mercalli scale, Richter scale, and moment magnitude scale

causes buildings to contract and expand is a _________.

P

Describe three types of seismic waves

P waves are waves that compress and expand; arrive first/fastest moving; travel through solids and liquids; cause buildings to expand and contract. S waves are waves that vibrate side to side and up and down; they come after P waves; travel only through solids; cause structures to shake violently. Surface waves are when both P and S waves reach the surface; move more slowly than P and S waves; cause most severe ground movements (ground moves like ocean waves and buildings move side to side).

What is the main danger to people during an earthquake?

The main danger is falling objects and flying glass.

What are the patterns of lines on a seismograph called?

The pattern of lines called the seismogram is the record of an earthquake's seismic waves produced by a seismograph

How do scientists map faults?

When seismic waves encounter a fault, the waves are reflected off the fault. Seismographs can detect them and then they use the data to map where they are coming from.

Explain the stretching of Earth's crust.

When two plates are stressed away from each other through tension there is a formation of a block of rock left behind. This is called a fault-block mountain.

Geologists use circles to find the epicenter of an earthquake. What does the center of each circle represent?

a particular seismograph's location

Name the letter of each mountain range that was caused by folding. a. Alps b. Himalayas c. Appalachian d. Great Basin

a. Alps b. Himalayas c. Appalachian

Name the letter of each term that is a category of seismic wave. a. P wave b. S wave c. surface wave d. underground wave

a. P wave b. S wave c. surface wave

Name the letter of the sentence that describes how a fault-block mountain is created. a. It is created by two normal faults. b. It is created by two reverse faults. c. It is created by a strike-slip fault. d. It is created by shearing.

a. it is created by two normal faults

Name the letter of each sentence that is true about a hanging wall. a. It slips downward when movement occurs along a normal fault. b. It is the half of a fault that lies below in a reverse fault. c. It is the same as a footwall. d. It occurs when the fault is at an angle.

a. it slips downward when movement occurs along a normal fault. d. it occurs when the fault is at an angle.

Circle the letter of each sentence that is true about both normal and reverse faults. a. The faults are at an angle. b. The faults are caused by tension. c. The faults are caused by compression. d. The faults have footwalls.

a. the faults are at an angle d. the faults have footwalls

An earthquake that occurs after a larger earthquake in the same area is referred to as a(n) ______.

aftershock

A fold in rock that bends upward into an arch.

anticline

Fold in rock that bends upward is called ___________.

anticline

Circle the letter of the term that refers to the strength of earthquakes as measured by seismic waves and movement along faults. a. Richter value b.magnitude c. Mercalli force d. vibrations

b. magnitude

Name the letter of the term that refers to force that acts on rock to change its shape or volume. a. fault b. stress c. pressure d. heat

b. stress

Shearing makes the rock ______ and _____ apart.

break slip

How do geologists measure seismic waves?

by using a seismograph

Measures movement along a slip-strike fault

creep meter

Circle the letter of the location where the risk of earthquakes is highest in the United States. a. along the Gulf of Mexico b. along the Atlantic coast c. along the Great Lakes d. along the Pacific coast

d. along the Pacific Coast

Is the following sentence true or false? A house built on solid rock will shake more during an earthquake than a house built on sandy soil.

false

Is the following sentence true or false? Geologists can predict accurately where and when an earthquake will strike.

false

Is the following sentence true or false? If no desk or table is available you should crouch against an outside wall.

false

Is the following sentence true or false? If you are outdoors during an earthquake, you should move under a tree or building.

false

Is the following sentence true or false? Surface waves move more quickly than P waves and S waves.

false

Is the following sentence true or false? The closer an earthquake, the greater the time between the arrival of P waves and the arrival of S waves.

false

Is the following sentence true or false? The farther a structure is from a fault, the stronger the shaking will be.

false

On earthquake distribution maps, the boundaries of the Earth's tectonic plates are shown as zones of LOW seismic activity.

false

The Richter earthquake magnitude scale is based on the total amount of energy released by the earthquake.

false

Unconsolidated, water-saturated soils or sediments provide good foundation materials for buildings and other structures.

false

Is the following sentence true or false? A strike-slip fault that forms the boundary between two plates is called a convergent boundary.

false, transform boundary

A break in Earth's crust is a(n) ____________________.

faults

The point at which a rock under stress breaks and triggers an earthquake is called the __________________.

focus

Compression makes the rock _______ or ________.

fold break

Parallel ridges and valleys is called ________.

folded mountains

The rock that lies below the fault.

footwall

Explain the uplifting of Earth's crust.

forces in Earth's crust push up a large, flat block of rock called a plateau

The block of rock that lies above the fault.

hanging wall

A device that bounces laser beams off a reflector to detect fault movements is a(n) ____.

laser-ranging device

Detects changes in distance to a reflector

laser-ranging device

The process in which an earthquake's violent shaking turns loose, soft soil into liquid mud is called ____.

liquefaction

Liquefaction is likely to occur where the soil is full of ____ and it can trigger landslides.

moisture

a rating system that estimates the total energy released by an earthquake at the shifted fault

moment magnitude scale

Rio Grande rift valley has a ______.

normal fault

The hanging wall slips downward below the footwall is a ________.

normal fault

A large area of flat land elevated high above sea level is called a _______.

plateau

A large area of flat land elevated high above sea level.

plateau

tension seismic waves _______ on the crust.

pull

Shearing _____ the rock in two different ______.

pushes directions

Rocky Mountains have a ________.

reverse fault

The hanging wall slides up and over the footwall is a _______.

reverse fault

A device that records the ground movements caused by seismic waves is a(n) __________________.

seismograph

Stress that pushes a mass of rock in two opposite directions.

shearing

Compression _______ the rock.

squeezes

A force that acts on rock to change its shape or volume.

stress

tension _______ rock so that it becomes thinner in the ______.

stretches middle

San Andreas Fault has a ________.

strike-slip fault

There is little up-or-down motion is a _________.

strike-slip fault

shakes buildings from side to side is a _____ wave.

surface

A fold in rock that bends downward to form a valley.

syncline

Fold in rock that bends downward is called _______.

syncline

Which type of stress causes the crust to become thinner?

tension

List the three types of stress that occur in Earth's crust.

tension, compression, and shearing

Geologists use circles to find the epicenter of an earthquake. What does the radius of each circle represent?

the distance from that seismograph to the epicenter

Works like a carpenter's level

tiltmeter

Earthquakes result from the sudden release of elastic strain energy previously stored in rocks surrounding a zone of fault movement.

true

Following a major earthquake, aftershocks diminish in magnitude but may still be powerful enough to destroy or further damage weakened buildings.

true

Horizontal vibrations, such as induced by strike-slip faulting, are generally much more dangerous to tall buildings than vertical up and down ground shaking.

true

If the P, S, and surface waves arrive almost simultaneously, the seismic recording station is virtually at the epicenter of the earthquake.

true

Is the following sentence true or false? Seismic waves carry the energy of an earthquake away from the focus in all directions.

true

Is the following sentence true or false? The thicker the layer of soil, the more violent the shaking will be during an earthquake.

true

Is the following sentence true or false? To predict earthquakes, geologists measure stress and deformation in the crust along faults

true

The Mercalli earthquake intensity scale uses Roman numerals from I to XII, XII being the highest intensity.

true

The time between the first P-wave and S-wave arrivals is a measure of the distance from a receiving station to the epicenter of the earthquake.

true

Tsunamis are caused by sudden displacement of large volumes of seawater.

true

Large ocean waves usually caused by strong earthquakes below the ocean floor are called _____.

tsunamis

The amount of space a rock takes up is its __________________.

volume