What does focus mean in a earthquake?

Answer 1

The difference between the epicentre and the focus of earthquakes is this:

The focus of the earthquake is where the actual earthquake occurred and the epicentre is on the ground directly above the focus. The epicentre is used to say where the earthquake was in relation to places near where it occurred.

Hope this helped :)

Answer 2

The difference between the epicentre and the focus of earthquakes is this:

The focus of the earthquake is where the actual earthquake occurred and the epicentre is on the ground directly above the focus. The epicentre is used to say where the earthquake was in relation to places near where it occurred.

Hope this helped :)

Answer 3

There is a lot of terminology that can confuse geographic enthusiast. Focus, Hypocenter, Epicenter? What does that exactly mean? When we spoke about seismic waves we mentioned that they originate from different areas. The point of which the wave originates is what we call the Earthquake focus (foci plural). It is also known as the Hypocenter. These foci of natural earthquakes are found at different depths below the ground surface. There are three levels, Shallow at 10-100 km below, Intermediate 70-300 km and Deep foci at 300 km or below.

Shallow earthquakes create the most damage and 3/4 of total energy released of earthquakes in the world. They unlike intermediate and deep focus earthquakes, shallow earthquakes occur at all type of plate boundaries like ocean trenches, subduction zones, etc.

So what is the epicenter of an earthquake, we always hear that. "The epicenter of the quake." The point on the ground surface directly above the focus is known as the epicenter [Bolt].

There is also another amazing geographical phenomenon that occurs. It is a major tectonic feature related to foci and it is called the Wadati Benioff (dipping seismic) zone. This is a narrow zone, that dips under the Earth's crust to depths of up to 700 km. It is a deep foci that generally occurs in Island arcs and deep ocean trenches.

source

Answer 4

The point inside the earth from where the earthquake originates is called focus.

Answer 5

The focus is directly below the epicenter in the earthquake. Though this does not mean it is 2 feet below. It is inside of the sea floor or Earth's crust.

Answer 6

Nothing - they're just different names for the same thing.... The place where the earthquake originated.

Answer 7

Epicentre.