Earthquake Vocabulary

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Earthquake Vocabulary
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EarthquakeVibrations in the earth caused by the
sudden release of energy, usually a result of the
movement of rocks along a fault.
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FaultA fracture in bedrock, along which the
opposite sides of the fracture move in opposite
directions.
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Focus The location where the rupture of an
earthquake begins and energy is released. This
happens below the earths surface.
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EpicenterThe point on the surface of the earth
directly above the focus of an earthquake.
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AftershockAn earthquake that follows the main
shock of an earthquake.
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SeismographThe instrument that detects,
records, and measures the vibrations produced by
an earthquake.
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SeismogramThe record made by a seismograph the
paper on which earthquake waves are recorded.
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Richter ScaleThe scale used to categorize the
intensity of earthquakes
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Plate TectonicsA theory stating that the earths
surface is broken into plates that move.
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PlateA large section of the earths surface
made of the crust and the rigid top part of the
mantle.