Use the following terms to complete the sentences. (12 pts): primary waves secon

Question

Use the following terms to complete the sentences. (12 pts):

primary waves            secondary waves        Richter                        surface waves

faults                           seismic waves            elastic energy             Moment

elastic rebound           outer core                    amplitude                    body   

Earthquakes occur as stress builds in rock along _____, cracks in the Earth’s crust, or along plate boundaries. The rock deforms and stores ____ as the stress accumulates over time. When the energy exceeds the strength of the rock, the rock cracks and shifts producing vibrations called ______ as the rock springs back to its original shape in a process called _____.

The first group of seismic waves recorded after an earthquake radiate in all directions through the entire planet and are called _____ waves. The _____ are compressional waves that change rock volume and are the very first to be recorded on a seismograph when an earthquake occurs. The second set of waves to be recorded are the ____ - oscillating waves that change rock shape. These wave cannot travel through liquids and do not pass through the Earth’s ____.

The last set of waves produced in an earthquake are the _____ . These are oscillating waves with sheer that cause a great deal of damage to structures on the surface.

The _______ magnitude scale uses the seismic waves with the greatest ____ to estimate the amount of energy released in an earthquake. Today, it is used in conjunction with the _____ magnitude scale which provides a better measure of the total energy released along an entire fault during an earthquake.

Explanation / Answer

Earthquakes occur as stress builds in a rock along faults, cracks in the Earth's crust, or along plate boundaries. The rock deforms and stores elastic energy as the stress accumulates over time. When the energy exceeds the strength of the rock, the rock cracks and shifts producing vibrations called seismic waves as the rock springs back to its original shape in a process called elastic rebound. The first group of seismic waves recorded after an earthquake radiate in all directions through the entire planet and are called body waves. The primary waves are compressional waves that change rock volume and are the very first to be recorded on a seismograph when an earthquake occurs. The second set of waves to be recorded are the surface waves - oscillating waves that change rock shape. These waves cannot travel through liquids and do not pass through the Earth's outer core. The last set of waves produced in an earthquake are the secondary waves. These are oscillating waves with shear that cause a great deal of damage to structures on rhe surface.

The Richter magnitude scale uses the seismic waves with the greatest amplitude to estimate the amount of energy released in an earthquake. Today, it is used in conjunction with the Moment magnitude scale which provides a better measure of the total energy released along an entire fault during an earthquake.

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