Earth Science Project

In class we are learning about earth science. We are doing this by researching information on specific topics we chose and then posting a wiki on omegaearthscience.pbwiki.com. And my topic was about how earthquakes occur. So this is what I have learned and chose to share. So , have you ever heard of an earthquake? Well you and almost everyone else have had. But the thing is, no one really knows why they occur. Which is what I will be sharing with you. First off, what is an earthquake? An earthquake is the movement of the earth’s plates squeezing and bending rocks causing them to brake. This brake is what causes the crust to shake and make an earthquake. This is also basically how an earthquake occurs. If that sounds way to confusing you can compare the earth’s plates to a rubber band. When you put too much tension or pressure on the rubber band by pulling it apart, it snaps. The same thing happens with the earth’s crust. The reaction is caused by a release of energy and seismic waves that shake the earth. When an earthquake occurs it moves the earth’s layers across a crack in the earth’s crust called a fault or a release of energy will cause a new fault to be produced. Earthquakes can occur all over the world but the worst earthquakes happen on plate boundaries. The reason earthquakes are more likely to happen at faults is because faults are fractured land and are more fragile to earthquakes. As much as they are dangerous, they could be avoidable. And that is what i learned from this project. I actually thought that doing a wiki was a fun way to learn something differently than just normal ordinary notes.

www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/why.html
www.iris.edu/edu/onepagers/no2.pdf