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What is the simple explanation for the cause of an earthquake?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The Earth's hard outer shell is called the lithosphere. If too much pressure is applied to the lithosphere it responds by breaking where splits or fractures form through it. This is known as brittle deformation.
As the Earth has formed over time, this hard outer shell of Earth has been broken up into a number of large pieces known as tectonic plates which move around very slowly on the underlying material. Where two or more of these large pieces bump into each other or scrape past each other, these parts of the plates can become locked together. However the rest of the plate is still moving and eventually this causes the parts of the plates that are locked together to be wrenched apart very suddenly. This releases lots of energy and causes the ground to shake. Depending on how long the plates have been locked together and how much movement occurred when they are wrenched apart controls how much energy is released and how violent the shaking that occurs.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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What causes walls and buildings to crumble during an earthquake?
the cause of structures to collapse during earthquakes are upheavals of tectonic plates..
What doesn't cause an earthquake?
Drinking a chocolate banana milkshake does not cause an earthquake.
What does an earthquake make the ground do?
An earthquake causes vibrations to move through the ground (in simple terms this makes the ground shake). If the earthquake is large and releases a lot of energy then the amplitude of the shaking (a bit like the height of a water wave) gets larger and so does the ability of the earthquake to cause damage.
Did the 1906 earthquake cause a tsunami if yes where?
No, the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 did not cause a tsunami.
What is a simple explanation for antimatter?
Yer face! :)
Scientific explanation of earthquake?
dgfdgfg
What causes walls and buildings to crumble during an earthquake?
the cause of structures to collapse during earthquakes are upheavals of tectonic plates..
When was Simple Explanation created?
Simple Explanation was created on 2009-04-06.
What was the cause of the yunnan earthquake?
what was the cause of Yunnan china earthquake
What doesn't cause an earthquake?
Drinking a chocolate banana milkshake does not cause an earthquake.
Did the japan earthquake cause a hole in the earth?
no...the earthquake did not cause a hole in the earth
How do you make a earthquake alarm model?
how to make a simple earthquake alarm
What does an earthquake make the ground do?
An earthquake causes vibrations to move through the ground (in simple terms this makes the ground shake). If the earthquake is large and releases a lot of energy then the amplitude of the shaking (a bit like the height of a water wave) gets larger and so does the ability of the earthquake to cause damage.
Did the 1906 earthquake cause a tsunami if yes where?
No, the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 did not cause a tsunami.
What does the Earths crust have to do with a Earthquake?
Google "US Geological Survey" for a good explanation.
What is formed when plate slides against another plate?
well it's simple: an earthquake that can kill and destroy cars, trees, and buildings and they can cause tsunamies
How are volcanoes earthquakes and tsunamis related?
A volcanic eruption can cause an earthquake and an earthquake underwater can cause a tsunami.
