Earthquakes - Topic 1

Question 1

What is an ‘Earthquake’?

Answer 1

A sudden violent movement of the ground, which is caused by pressure being released after two plates, oceanic and continental, collide.

Question 2

How is the pressure caused in an Earthquake?

Answer 2

By plate movement

Question 3

Explain why earthquakes occur at destructive plate margins

Answer 3

Point 1: Because the two plates, Oceanic and Continental, collide
Point 2: The Oceanic plate is denser than the continental plate, so it sinks below it
Point 3: The Oceanic plate sinking below the Continental plate is known as subduction
Point 4: Volcanoes cannot take place at a destructive plate margin

Question 4

Explain why earthquakes do not always cause the most deaths

Answer 4

Population density may be low so not many people in the danger area
Some areas may just be poor so buildings just collapse killing only a few people