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How do earthquake cause damage?

Updated: 10/18/2022
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Wiki User

14y ago

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There are several ways. P-waves, which arrive first, generally produce a vertical vibration. These shake structures and can cause damage, but tent to be less damaging than the other main variety because they are less intense, ane buildings are designed to handle the vertical stress of their own wieght anyway.

The worst damage is generally caused by the more intense S-waves, which arrive second. These waves produce a side-to-side movement, which can cause many buildings to collapse, as they are not built to withstand shear stress.

Earthquakes can also cause the ground to shift, break, and deform, causing foundations to fail. In some cases, the soil of an area may act as a liquid.

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Dimitri Welch

Lvl 13
1y ago
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10y ago

There are several ways. P-waves, which arrive first, generally produce a vertical vibration. These shake structures and can cause damage, but tent to be less damaging than the other main variety because they are less intense, ane buildings are designed to handle the vertical stress of their own wieght anyway.

The worst damage is generally caused by the more intense S-waves, which arrive second. These waves produce a side-to-side movement, which can cause many buildings to collapse, as they are not built to withstand shear stress.

Earthquakes can also cause the ground to shift, break, and deform, causing foundations to fail. In some cases, the soil of an area may act as a liquid.

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14y ago

since earthquakes are caused by the movement or shift in plate tectonics they cause damage when pressure under the plates builds and it realeses in a sudden jolt. that is why it is good to have small earthquakes throughout the years instead of having one big earthquake every few years.

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Q: How do earthquake cause damage?
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