Question 1

What is the approximate highest frequency of vibration (of back and forth shaking)in earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

A)  2-3 cycles per minute 
B)  2-3 cycles per second 
C)  20-30 cycles per second 
D)  2,000-3,000 cycles per second 
E)  20,000-30,000 cycles per second 
A)  2-3 cycles per minute 
B)  2-3 cycles per second 
C)  20-30 cycles per second 
D)  2,000-3,000 cycles per second 
E)  20,000-30,000 cycles per second C

Question 2

What is meant by a blind thrust? Provide an example of an earthquake along a blind thrust.

Accepted Answer

A blind thrust is a low angle reverse fault that does not rupture the Earth's surface during an earthquake.The 1994 Northridge,California earthquake occurred due to displacement on a blind thrust.

Question 3

What is the approximate P-wave velocity through the Earth? Indicate whether your answer refers to the Earth's crust or mantle.

Accepted Answer

5-6 km/sec in continental crust; 8 km/sec in mantle.

Question 4

What does the Richter Magnitude Scale depend on?

Accepted Answer

A)  the maximum amplitude of earthquake waves on a seismograph 
B)  the frequency of P waves recorded on a seismograph 
C)  the intensity of shaking during the earthquake 
D)  the amount of destruction by the earthquake 
E)  the distance to the earthquake focus 
A)  the maximum amplitude of earthquake waves on a seismograph 
B)  the frequency of P waves recorded on a seismograph 
C)  the intensity of shaking during the earthquake 
D)  the amount of destruction by the earthquake 
E)  the distance to the earthquake focus

Question 5

Moment magnitude depends on what main factor(s)?

Accepted Answer

A)  total offset distance on the fault during the earthquake 
B)  total length of the fault ruptured 
C)  shear strength of the rocks displaced, total surface area of rocks ruptured, and average slip distance on the fault 
D)  frequency of movement of the earthquake waves and the total time of shaking 
E)  amplitude of seismograph swing at the first moment of arrival of shaking 
A)  total offset distance on the fault during the earthquake 
B)  total length of the fault ruptured 
C)  shear strength of the rocks displaced, total surface area of rocks ruptured, and average slip distance on the fault 
D)  frequency of movement of the earthquake waves and the total time of shaking 
E)  amplitude of seismograph swing at the first moment of arrival of shaking

Question 6

Which type or types of earthquake waves move only near the surface of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  all earthquake waves 
B)  P waves 
C)  surface waves 
D)  S waves 
E)  waves from faults that break near-surface rocks 
A)  all earthquake waves 
B)  P waves 
C)  surface waves 
D)  S waves 
E)  waves from faults that break near-surface rocks

Question 7

If you find a well-exposed fault that moved before seismographs were available,you can infer the approximate magnitude of earthquake by measuring the:

Accepted Answer

A)  largest size tree snapped off by the shaking. 
B)  average size of the largest rocks moved in the earthquake. 
C)  strength of the rocks that the earthquake managed to break. 
D)  total area affected by the tsunami wave produced by the event. 
E)  total length of fault break during the event. 
A)  largest size tree snapped off by the shaking. 
B)  average size of the largest rocks moved in the earthquake. 
C)  strength of the rocks that the earthquake managed to break. 
D)  total area affected by the tsunami wave produced by the event. 
E)  total length of fault break during the event.

Question 8

How is the distance to the source of an earthquake determined?

Accepted Answer

A)  by calling many seismograph operators to see who felt it most strongly 
B)  by subtracting the travel times of P and S waves 
C)  by measuring the frequency of the P waves as they arrive at a seismograph 
D)  by measuring the height of the S waves recorded on a seismograph 
E)  by adding the travel times of the L waves and the Raleigh waves 
A)  by calling many seismograph operators to see who felt it most strongly 
B)  by subtracting the travel times of P and S waves 
C)  by measuring the frequency of the P waves as they arrive at a seismograph 
D)  by measuring the height of the S waves recorded on a seismograph 
E)  by adding the travel times of the L waves and the Raleigh waves

Question 9

Discuss the types of earthquake waves and the potential damage each individual one can cause.

Accepted Answer

P waves hit first; they are the least da

Question 10

Which earthquake waves arrive first?

Accepted Answer

A)  P waves 
B)  S waves 
C)  L waves 
D)  shear waves 
E)  surface waves 
A)  P waves 
B)  S waves 
C)  L waves 
D)  shear waves 
E)  surface waves

Question 11

Why do parking garages often fail and fall during an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

A)  Garages fall due to a lack of steel reinforcing bars. 
B)  Garages are made of poor quality concrete. 
C)  Horizontal spans across the large openings are too long to support the weight of vehicles. 
D)  Horizontal support beams shake off their vertical columns because they are often not well braced. 
E)  The vertical concrete supports are too thin to support the load. 
A)  Garages fall due to a lack of steel reinforcing bars. 
B)  Garages are made of poor quality concrete. 
C)  Horizontal spans across the large openings are too long to support the weight of vehicles. 
D)  Horizontal support beams shake off their vertical columns because they are often not well braced. 
E)  The vertical concrete supports are too thin to support the load.

Question 12

Why are surface waves the most destructive type of earthquake waves to buildings?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are compressional waves. 
B)  They are shear waves. 
C)  They first compress the material and then pull it apart. 
D)  They move with the highest velocities. 
E)  They have larger amplitudes of shaking. 
A)  They are compressional waves. 
B)  They are shear waves. 
C)  They first compress the material and then pull it apart. 
D)  They move with the highest velocities. 
E)  They have larger amplitudes of shaking.

Question 13

Where do earthquakes typically occur? Explain why they occur where they do.Which coast of North America has highly damaging earthquakes that are less frequent?

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes typically occur at plate bou

Question 14

In addition to the amount of damage,increases in what factors go along with an increase in earthquake magnitude? List several.

Accepted Answer

Fault offset; length of fault

Question 15

How much more energy is released in a magnitude 7 earthquake than in a magnitude 6 earthquake?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How much more energy is released in...

Question 16

What does the Mercalli Intensity Scale depend on?

Accepted Answer

A)  how much damage occurred in an area 
B)  the intensity of shaking of the seismograph 
C)  the amplitude of movement of the seismograph needle 
D)  the strength of rocks broken along the fault 
E)  the frequency of the earthquake waves as they reach the seismograph 
A)  how much damage occurred in an area 
B)  the intensity of shaking of the seismograph 
C)  the amplitude of movement of the seismograph needle 
D)  the strength of rocks broken along the fault 
E)  the frequency of the earthquake waves as they reach the seismograph

Question 17

Explain the ways in which devastation from an earthquake could be minimized in a community.

Accepted Answer

Earthquake devastation could be minimize

Question 18

Where a tall building is right next to a short building,why is the tall building often damaged? Why does the damage occur and where in the building?

Accepted Answer

Tall buildings sway more slowl

Question 19

Which type or types of earthquake waves arrive at a distant seismograph most quickly by traveling through the mantle of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which type or types of earthquake waves...

Question 20

How much more energy is released in a magnitude 7 earthquake than in a magnitude 6 earthquake?

Accepted Answer

A)  about double 
B)  about 3 times 
C)  about 10 times 
D)  about 32 times 
E)  about 100 times 
A)  about double 
B)  about 3 times 
C)  about 10 times 
D)  about 32 times 
E)  about 100 times

What is the approximate highest frequency of vibration (of back and forth shaking)in earthquakes?

What is meant by a blind thrust? Provide an example of an earthquake along a blind thrust.

What is the approximate P-wave velocity through the Earth? Indicate whether your answer refers to the Earth's crust or mantle.

What does the Richter Magnitude Scale depend on?

Moment magnitude depends on what main factor(s)?

Which type or types of earthquake waves move only near the surface of the Earth?

If you find a well-exposed fault that moved before seismographs were available,you can infer the approximate magnitude of earthquake by measuring the:

How is the distance to the source of an earthquake determined?

Discuss the types of earthquake waves and the potential damage each individual one can cause.

Which earthquake waves arrive first?

Why do parking garages often fail and fall during an earthquake?

Why are surface waves the most destructive type of earthquake waves to buildings?

Where do earthquakes typically occur? Explain why they occur where they do.Which coast of North America has highly damaging earthquakes that are less frequent?

In addition to the amount of damage,increases in what factors go along with an increase in earthquake magnitude? List several.

How much more energy is released in a magnitude 7 earthquake than in a magnitude 6 earthquake?

What does the Mercalli Intensity Scale depend on?

Explain the ways in which devastation from an earthquake could be minimized in a community.

Where a tall building is right next to a short building,why is the tall building often damaged? Why does the damage occur and where in the building?

Which type or types of earthquake waves arrive at a distant seismograph most quickly by traveling through the mantle of the Earth?

How much more energy is released in a magnitude 7 earthquake than in a magnitude 6 earthquake?

Natural Hazards and Disasters

Plate Tectonics and Physical Hazards

Earthquake Prediction and Mitigation

Tsunami

Volcanoes: Tectonic Environments and Eruptions

Volcanoes: Hazards and Mitigation

Landslides and Other Downslope Movements

Sinkholes, Land Subsidence, and Swelling Soils

Weather, Thunderstorms, And Tornadoes

Climate Change

Streams And Flood Processes

Floods And Human Interactions

Waves,Beaches,And Coastal Erosion

Hurricanes and Nor’easters

Wildfires

Impact of Asteroids and Comets

The Future: Where Do We Go From Here?

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Exam 3: Earthquakes and Their Causes

What is the approximate highest frequency of vibration (of back and forth shaking)in earthquakes?

What is meant by a blind thrust? Provide an example of an earthquake along a blind thrust.

What is the approximate P-wave velocity through the Earth? Indicate whether your answer refers to the Earth's crust or mantle.

What does the Richter Magnitude Scale depend on?

Moment magnitude depends on what main factor(s)?

Which type or types of earthquake waves move only near the surface of the Earth?

If you find a well-exposed fault that moved before seismographs were available,you can infer the approximate magnitude of earthquake by measuring the:

How is the distance to the source of an earthquake determined?

Discuss the types of earthquake waves and the potential damage each individual one can cause.

Which earthquake waves arrive first?

Why do parking garages often fail and fall during an earthquake?

Why are surface waves the most destructive type of earthquake waves to buildings?

Where do earthquakes typically occur? Explain why they occur where they do.Which coast of North America has highly damaging earthquakes that are less frequent?

In addition to the amount of damage,increases in what factors go along with an increase in earthquake magnitude? List several.

How much more energy is released in a magnitude 7 earthquake than in a magnitude 6 earthquake?

What does the Mercalli Intensity Scale depend on?

Explain the ways in which devastation from an earthquake could be minimized in a community.

Where a tall building is right next to a short building,why is the tall building often damaged? Why does the damage occur and where in the building?

Which type or types of earthquake waves arrive at a distant seismograph most quickly by traveling through the mantle of the Earth?

How much more energy is released in a magnitude 7 earthquake than in a magnitude 6 earthquake?

Natural Hazards and Disasters

Plate Tectonics and Physical Hazards

Earthquake Prediction and Mitigation

Tsunami

Volcanoes: Tectonic Environments and Eruptions

Volcanoes: Hazards and Mitigation

Landslides and Other Downslope Movements

Sinkholes, Land Subsidence, and Swelling Soils

Weather, Thunderstorms, And Tornadoes

Climate Change

Streams And Flood Processes

Floods And Human Interactions

Waves,Beaches,And Coastal Erosion

Hurricanes and Nor’easters

Wildfires

Impact of Asteroids and Comets

The Future: Where Do We Go From Here?

Filters