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Earthquakes are the result of the formation of new faults within the lithosphere or the movement of older pre-existing faults.

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Faults are large fractures or cracks that form in the Earth's lithosphere. They can range in size from metres to 100's or 1000's of km.

Faults form within the lithosphere due to stress. As stress increases the lithosphere initially begins to deform elastically (like a spring being squashed or an elastic band being stretched). When the stress exceeds the strength of the lithosphere, a brittle failure occurs. Brittle failures are those where cracks or fractures form through the material. This releases all the energy stored in the rocks in one go as seismic waves causing an earthquake.

Now this has been going on for millions of years so that there are already a large number of fractures or faults in the lithosphere. These pre-existing points of weakness are now the first part of the lithosphere to fail when stress builds up.


they move up against each other.. constantly moving and the pressure gets to be too much and boom an earthquake happens.. islands are made by being pushed upward. it is a fascinating topic to read up on more

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Q: What is the relationship between faults and earthquakes?
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How are faults and earthquakes are related?

The are both related to the movement of tectonic plates.


When faults shift what occurs?

That causes earthquakes


Where are located the volcanoes and earthquakes?

it is at faults or cracks


What do scientists use to locate hidden faults?

Earthquakes


All faults will cause earthquakes?

It all depends on how big the fault is, bigger ones will cause bigger earthquakes, while smaller, or small ones may cause no earthquake at all.

Related questions

What is the relationship between the locations of volcanoes and earthquakes with regard to faults?

Earthquakes and volcanoes are most common near the faults at plate boundaries.


What is the relationship between earthquakes and tornadoes?

There is no relationship between tornadoes and earthquakes.


What is the relationship between the location of recent earthquakes and major faults in California?

most people in calafornia are really fat and they move about wobbleing the tetonic plates.


Which kind of boundary is seen in earthquakes that are normal faults?

Transform boundaries are seen in earthquakes that are caused by normal faults. Some types of faults are listric or ring faults.


Why don't all faults cause earthquakes?

Faults are the boundaries between tectonic plates and are not the cause of earthquakes. The motion of one plate against another or the subduction of one plate by another can eventually cause a slippage, and it is this slippage that causes earthquakes.


Are Earthquakes are most likely at faults along the boundary between two plates?

Yes!


What are the types of faults that lead to earthquakes?

it is the movement of plates between the surface of the earth!:0)


How faults produce earthquakes?

Faults DO NOT produce earthquakes, faults are produced by earthquakes. This means that earthquake loci are centered on and along faults. The energy released by an earthquake is the stress energy built up as a result of plate tectonic forces.


What are faults caused by?

earthquakes


What are earthquakes associated with?

Faults


What are the actions of the faults?

Faults can create cracks in the earth and cause earthquakes.


How are faults and earthquakes are related?

The are both related to the movement of tectonic plates.