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The energy that is released by an earthquake is formed due to the accumulation of elastic strain energy in the crust around a fault due to deformation (a bit like the energy stored in a compressed spring).

As the stress and resultant strain accumulates, it ultimately exceeds the shear strength of the rock mass in the fault zone or the shear strength of the fault itself and causes a brittle failure or rupture to occur. This causes sudden movement, fracturing of the rock mass and a sudden release of the accumulated elastic strain energy in the form of seismic waves, heat and sound.

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How is energy of an earthquake stored before the earthquake?

Energy is stored in the form of stress as tectonic plates move and become locked against each other. As the plates continue to move and the stress builds up, the stored energy increases until it reaches a point where the rocks break and release the energy in the form of seismic waves, causing an earthquake.


What is the atomic bomb of energy released during a 7.0 earthquake?

The energy released during a 7.0 earthquake is equivalent to about 32 million pounds of TNT, which is a massive amount of energy. The destruction caused by such an earthquake can be widespread and devastating.


How many megatons of energy did the 1960 Chile earthquake release?

The 1960 Chile earthquake, also known as the Valdivia earthquake, released energy equivalent to about 1,000 megatons of TNT, making it the most powerful earthquake ever recorded.


What is the difference in energy output between a magnitude 5 earthquake and a magnitude 6 earthquake?

The energy output of a magnitude 6 earthquake is approximately 32 times greater than that of a magnitude 5 earthquake. Magnitude scales such as the Richter scale are logarithmic, so each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in amplitude and approximately 32 times more energy release.


How is an earthquake magnitude scale related to the amounts of energy released by earthquaiew?

The earthquake magnitude scale, such as the Richter scale or the moment magnitude scale, is logarithmic, meaning each whole number increase corresponds to a tenfold increase in amplitude and approximately 32 times more energy released. This means that a magnitude 7 earthquake releases roughly 32 times more energy than a magnitude 6 earthquake.

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Where did the store energy of earthquake come from?

I believe it's related to the heat from Earth's interior, which in turn is mainly due to radioactive decay.


An earthquake with magnitude 7.5 has how many more times the energy than a 6.5 earthquake?

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