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What is an Earthquake?

Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 1.2.16

What is an Earthquake?

When plates move past each other, waves (vibrations) are created. There are different aspects of an earthquake:

Epicentre

Epicentre

  • The epicentre is the point on the Earth's crust that is directly above the centre of the earthquake.
Focus

Focus

  • The focus is where the pressure is released underground and where the energy radiates out from.
  • This is the place with the strongest waves that cause the most destruction.
Shock (seismic) waves

Shock (seismic) waves

  • Energy is released from the focus in shock waves (called seismic waves).
  • The most damage will occur at the places where the shock waves are strongest (closest to the epicentre).

Test yourself on What is an Earthquake?

  • What do we call the point on the Earth's crust that is directly above the centre of the earthquake?

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