1. Tectonic Plates, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes.

According to the theory of plate tectonics, Earth is

an active planet. Its surface is composed of many individual plates that move and interact,
constantly changing and reshaping Earth's outer layer. Volcanoes and earthquakes both result
from the movement of tectonic plates.
2. An earthquake is what happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another.
The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane. The location below the earth’s
surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it
on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter.
3. The Difference!
a. Epicenter-The point on the Earth's surface located directly above the focus of an
earthquake.
b. Focus-The location where the earthquake begins. The ground ruptures at this spot, then
seismic waves radiate outward in all directions.
4. Elastic-rebound theory is an explanation for how energy is released during an earthquake. As
adjoining plates on the Earth's surface move in opposite directions, the rocks which span the
opposing sides of the incipient fault are subjected to extreme shear stress.
5. A foreshock is an earthquake that occurs before a larger seismic event (the mainshock) and is
related to it in both time and space. The designation of an earthquake as foreshock, mainshock
or aftershock is only possible after the full sequence of events has happened.
6. Two Ways
a. Changes rock shape
b. and bends rock
7. Seismic Waves-Energy released during an earthquake travels in the form of waves around the
Earth.
a. P Waves
i. (P stands for primary) arrive at the detector first. They are longitudinal waves
which mean the vibrations are along the same direction as the direction of
travel. Other examples of longitudinal waves include sound waves and waves in
a stretched spring.
b. S Waves
i. S-waves (S stands for secondary) arrive at the detector of a seismometer
second. They are transverse waves which mean the vibrations are at right angles
to the direction of travel. Other examples of transverse waves include light
waves and water waves.
8. Scientists use waves to study the different layers of the earth. Usually, they use seismic waves,
which are waves generated by earthquakes or nuclear-test explosions. The seismic waves are
bent, sped up, or slowed down, or even reflected when they pass through the earth's layers.
9. An earthquake is what happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another.
The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane.
10. 3 Major Types of Faults
a. Normal faults form when the hanging wall drops down. The forces that create normal
faults are pulling the sides apart, or extensional.
b. Reverse faults form when the hanging wall moves up. The forces creating reverse faults
are compressional, pushing the sides together.
c. Transcurrent or Strike-slip faults have walls that move sideways, not up or down.