Question 1

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the point where an earthquake occurs is termed the

Accepted Answer

A)   hypocenter (focus) .
B)   epicenter.
C)   eye of the fault.
D)   vertex.E) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 2

During an earthquake,if a hanging wall slides downward relative to a footwall,the fault is termed a ________ fault.Refer to the figure below for an example of such a feature.

Accepted Answer

A)   normal
B)   reverse
C)   strike-slip
D)   thrustE) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 3

Periods of intermittent sliding on a fault because of stress release during episodes of slip,followed by stress buildup to the point that the fault is reactivated,are termed

Accepted Answer

A)   chaotic faulting.
B)   thrust faulting.
C)   stick-slip behavior.
D)   reverse faulting.E) C) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 4

Where do earthquakes occur? Please explain your answer in the context of plate tectonics.Are there exceptions?

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes tend to occur along plate boundaries.This includes convergent,divergent,and transform boundaries.However,occasionally intraplate earthquakes-those occurring away from plate boundaries-do happen.

Question 5

Determining where roads and building should be built based on where land is stable and less prone to landslide or liquefaction during an earthquake is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   earthquake zoning
B)   earthquake engineering
C)   seismic hazard mapping
D)   seismic retrofittingE) A) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 6

At a minimum,how many seismic stations are necessary to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

A)   one
B)   two
C)   three
D)   fourE) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 7

Earthquake waves that travel along the Earth's surface are termed

Accepted Answer

A)   interior waves.
B)   S-waves.
C)   surface waves.
D)   body waves.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 8

What is an early earthquake warning system,and why does this differ from a short-term earthquake prediction tool?

Accepted Answer

Early warning systems warn of an earthquake in progress,not of an earthquake that will take place in the future.Reliable short-term earthquake predictions do not exist.

Question 9

On average,there are _______occurrences of light and minor earthquakes compared to the number of major and great earthquakes each year.

Accepted Answer

A)   many thousands more
B)   approximately ten times as many
C)   about the same number of
D)   many fewerE) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 10

Seismic retrofitting is the process of

Accepted Answer

A)   predicting future earthquakes.
B)   strengthening existing buildings and structures.
C)   mapping areas prone to earthquakes.
D)   fitting earthquake data after an event to see if it should have been predicted.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 11

Which type of seismic wave has the fastest velocity?

Accepted Answer

A)   L-wave
B)   P-wave
C)   R-wave
D)   S-waveE) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 12

During an earthquake,if the hanging wall slides upward relative to the footwall,the fault is termed a ________ fault if the fault is steep (closer to vertical than horizontal) .Refer to the figure below for an example of such a feature.

Accepted Answer

A)   normal
B)   reverse
C)   strike-slip
D)   thrustE) C) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 13

Most medium- and deep-focus earthquakes occur at

Accepted Answer

A)   convergent-plate boundaries.
B)   divergent-plate boundaries.
C)   transform-plate boundaries.
D)   hot spots.E) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 14

How is the epicenter of an earthquake different from the focus? Why are both terms useful?

Accepted Answer

The focus,or hypocenter,of an earthquake...

Question 15

Which earthquake scale measures the amplitude of deflection of a seismograph pen,standardized to an idealized distance of 100 km between the epicenter and the seismograph?

Accepted Answer

A)   the Richter scale
B)   the Mercalli scale
C)   the moment magnitude scale
D)   the surface-wave magnitude scaleE) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 16

Which earthquake severity scale varies from locality to locality for a single earthquake?

Accepted Answer

A)   the Richter scale
B)   the Mercalli scale
C)   the moment magnitude scale
D)   the surface-wave magnitude scaleE) A) and B)
F) A) and C) B

Question 17

Body waves include

Accepted Answer

A)   both S- and P-waves.
B)   both L- and R-waves.
C)   both surface and interior waves.
D)   P-waves only.E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 18

Compare and contrast P- and S-waves.

Accepted Answer

P-waves and S-waves are both body waves....

Question 19

Why do deep-focus earthquakes occur along convergent plate boundaries? Why are they absent along divergent or transform boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Convergent plate boundaries result in su...

Question 20

Earthquake waves that pass through the Earth's interior are termed

Accepted Answer

A)   interior waves.
B)   R-waves.
C)   surface waves.
D)   body waves.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Exam 8: A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the point where an earthquake occurs is termed the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During an earthquake,if a hanging wall slides downward relative to a footwall,the fault is termed a ________ fault.Refer to the figure below for an example of such a feature.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Periods of intermittent sliding on a fault because of stress release during episodes of slip,followed by stress buildup to the point that the fault is reactivated,are termed

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Where do earthquakes occur? Please explain your answer in the context of plate tectonics.Are there exceptions?

Correct AnswerverifiedEarthquakes tend to occur along plate boundaries.This includes convergent,divergent,and transform boundaries.However,occasionally intraplate earthquakes-those occurring away from plate boundaries-do happen.

Determining where roads and building should be built based on where land is stable and less prone to landslide or liquefaction during an earthquake is an example of ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

At a minimum,how many seismic stations are necessary to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Earthquake waves that travel along the Earth's surface are termed

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is an early earthquake warning system,and why does this differ from a short-term earthquake prediction tool?

Correct AnswerverifiedEarly warning systems warn of an earthquake in progress,not of an earthquake that will take place in the future.Reliable short-term earthquake predictions do not exist.

On average,there are _______occurrences of light and minor earthquakes compared to the number of major and great earthquakes each year.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Seismic retrofitting is the process of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which type of seismic wave has the fastest velocity?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During an earthquake,if the hanging wall slides upward relative to the footwall,the fault is termed a ________ fault if the fault is steep (closer to vertical than horizontal) .Refer to the figure below for an example of such a feature.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most medium- and deep-focus earthquakes occur at

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How is the epicenter of an earthquake different from the focus? Why are both terms useful?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe focus,or hypocenter,of an earthquake...View AnswerShow Answer

Which earthquake scale measures the amplitude of deflection of a seismograph pen,standardized to an idealized distance of 100 km between the epicenter and the seismograph?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which earthquake severity scale varies from locality to locality for a single earthquake?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Body waves include

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Compare and contrast P- and S-waves.

Correct AnswerverifiedP-waves and S-waves are both body waves....View AnswerShow Answer

Why do deep-focus earthquakes occur along convergent plate boundaries? Why are they absent along divergent or transform boundaries?

Correct AnswerverifiedConvergent plate boundaries result in su...View AnswerShow Answer

Earthquake waves that pass through the Earth's interior are termed

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Earthquakes tend to occur along plate boundaries.This includes convergent,divergent,and transform boundaries.However,occasionally intraplate earthquakes-those occurring away from plate boundaries-do happen.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Early warning systems warn of an earthquake in progress,not of an earthquake that will take place in the future.Reliable short-term earthquake predictions do not exist.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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The focus,or hypocenter,of an earthquake...
View Answer

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Correct Answer
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B

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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P-waves and S-waves are both body waves....
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Convergent plate boundaries result in su...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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