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Earthquake Vocabulary /Study guide
WTR Mr. Prisco Earth Chapters 1&2
46
Science
6th Grade
03/03/2015

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Term
earthquake
Definition
the shaking that results from the movement of rock beneath Earth's surface
Term
stress
Definition
a force that acts on rock to change its shape or volume
Term
shearing
Definition
stress that pushes a mass of rock in opposite directions
Term
tension
Definition
stress that stretches rock so that it becomes thinner in the middle
Term
compression
Definition
stress that squeezes rock until it folds or breaks
Term
deformation
Definition
a change in the volume or shape of Earth's crust
Term
fault
Definition
a break in Earth's crust where slabs of rock slip past each other
Term
strike-slip fault
Definition
a type of fault where rocks on either side move past each other sideways with little up-or-down motion
Term
normal fault
Definition
a type of fault where the hanging wall slides downward; caused by tension in the crust
Term
reverse fault
Definition
a type of fault where the hanging wall slides upward
Term
folds
Definition
a bend in rock that forms where part of Earth's crust is compressed
Term
anticline
Definition
an upward fold in rock formed by compression of Earth's crust
Term
syncline
Definition
a downward fold in rock formed by compression in Earth's crust
Term
focus
Definition
the point beneath Earth's surface where rock breaks under stress and causes an earthquake
Term
epicenter
Definition
the point on Earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus
Term
seismic waves
Definition
a vibration that travels through the Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
Term
P waves
Definition
a type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the ground
Term
S waves
Definition
A type of seismic wave that moves the ground up and down or side to side.
Term
surface waves
Definition
a type of seismic wave that forms when P waves and S waves reach Earth's surface
Term
seismograph
Definition
a device that records ground movements caused by seismic waves as they move through Earth
Term
magnitude
Definition
the measurement of an earthquake's strength based on seismic waves and movement along faults.
Term
mercalli scale
Definition
a scale that rates earthquakes according to their intensity and how much damage they cause
Term
richter scale
Definition
a scale that rates seismic waves as measured by a particular type of mechanical seismograph
Term
moment magnitude scale
Definition
a scale that rates earthquakes by estimating the total energy released by and earthquake
Term
What is the difference between constructive and destructive forces?
Definition
Constructive forces shape the surface by building up mountains and landmasses. Destructive forces are those that slowly wear away mountains and, eventually, every other feature on the surface.
Term
How do pressure and temperature change in Earth's interior?
Definition
Pressure and temperature both increase as you get deeper into the Earth's interior.
Term
Describe the characteristics of the Earth's crust.
Definition
Rocks, mountains, Earth's outer skin, thin layer, dry land and ocean floor.
Term
Describe the characteristics of the Earth's mantle.
Definition
2nd layer down, solid layer of hot rock, made up of the upper lithosphere and the lower asthenosphere (weaker). The mantle is very thick.
Term
Describe the characteristics of the Earth's outer core.
Definition
Liquid molten metal, behaves like a thick liquid.
Term
Describe the characteristics of the Earth's inner core.
Definition
Dense ball of solid metal under extreme pressure
Term
What are the three different ways that heat is transferred.
Definition
radiation, conduction and convection
Term
What is radiation?
Definition
The transfer of heat through an empty space.
Term
What is conduction?
Definition
heat transfer by direct contact of particles of matter
Term
What is convection?
Definition
heat transfer involving the movement of fluids, liquids and gases. During convection, heated particles of fluid begin to flow, transferring heat energy from one part of the fluid to another.
Term
Describe the Theory of Continental Drift.
Definition
The idea that all the continents were once joined together and slowly drifted apart.
Term
What evidence did Alfred Wegener use in his Theory of Continental drift?
Definition
evidence from landforms matching up, similar fossils on different continents, climate evidence
Term
Why was Wegener's theory of Continental Drift rejected?
Definition
He could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the force that pushes or pulls the continents.
Term
Describe the Theory of Sea Floor Spreading.
Definition
the process by which molten material adds new oceanic crust to the ocean floor.
Term
State the evidence that Harry Hess used to support the Sea Floor spreading theory.
Definition
evidence from the molten material and magnetic strip patterns on the ocean floor, evidence from drilling samples
Term
Explain the role that subduction plays in sea floor spreading.
Definition
subduction is the process by which the ocean floor sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle.
Term
Describe the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
Definition
explains the formation, movement and subduction of Earth's plates. Plates of the lithosphere float on top of the asthenosphere. Convection currents rise in the asthenosphere causing the movement of Earth's plates.
Term
What are the three types of plate boundaries?
Definition
transform, divergent, convergent
Term
What is a transform boundary?
Definition
a place where two plates slip past each other, moving in opposite directions.
Term
What is a divergent boundary?
Definition
the place where two plates move apart or diverge, causing a rift valley
Term
What is a convergent boundary?
Definition
the place where two plates come together or converge, causing mountains which rise up or a trench when one plate dives under another.
Term
What is the difference between and epicenter and focus of an earthquake?
Definition
The focus is below the earth's surface where the rock breaks. The epicenter is on the earth's surface directly above the focus.
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