Department of Education

Region III
DIVISION OF MABALACAT CITY

Name: _______________________________________ Grade & Section: __________

School: ____________________________________________ Date: _______________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Science 8 (Q2 - Wk1)
Earthquakes and Faults

I. Introduction

Do you still remember the 6.1 magnitude Earthquake that struck

Castillejos, Zambales on 22nd of April, 2019? Were you frightened at that
time? People were in shock because of that unexpected event and many were
devastated. Various structures collapsed and even the lives of many people
were put into risk. Some people were able to capture the frightening effect of
that earthquake. Most people were finding their way out to keep themselves
safe.

Having basic understanding about Earthquakes and Faults will give you
hints on how these phenomena have occurred and how movements of rocks
along faults generate earthquakes.

II. Learning Competencies

Using models or illustrations, explain how movement along faults

generate earthquakes. (S8ES-IIa-14). Differentiate the epicenter of an
earthquake from its focus. (S8ES-IIa-15)

III. Objectives
After going through this Learning Activity Sheets, you are expected to:
1. explain how faults are formed and their different types;
2. differentiate the focus from the epicenter of an earthquake;
3. determine the effect when blocks of rocks along faults move; and
4. cite the importance of having knowledge and some precautionary
measures in times of unavoidable circumstances

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IV. Discussion

Earthquakes occur in the least expected time. In order to

understand why it happens, you must take note of the relationship
between earthquakes and faults.

An Earthquake is the violent shaking of the ground due to the

motion/movement of the Earth’s outermost layer. You may think that
the surface where we step daily is not moving but the layers underneath
it is active.

The Earth has different layers

namely: crust, mantle, outer
and inner core. The crust
together with the upper mantle
consist the lithosphere.

Image retrieved from: (www.spaceplace.nasa.gov)

Image retrieved from: (www.spaceplace.nasa.gov)

The lithosphere is like a jigsaw puzzle commonly called (tectonic

plates) which is broken into pieces and continuously move at a very slow
rate. It sometimes bump, break away or slide past one another.

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 Due to these movements of the tectonic plates, they cause stress
on the crust of the Earth which lead to cracks on the surface or what we
call faults.

When pieces of the lithosphere continually move, the movement

causes stress where there is friction that moves the two blocks of rocks
of the fault. When there is enough stress, rocks suddenly slip, releases
energy traveling to the surface that causes the shaking of the ground.

Faults are cracks along two

blocks of rocks.

Image retrieved from: (www.flickr.com)

Types of Faults

Normal fault- the hanging wall slides down

relative to the footwall. This occurs when
there are tensional (pulled apart) forces on
rocks.

Reverse fault- the hanging wall moves up

and over the footwall. This occurs when
there are compressional (pushed to each
other) forces on rocks.

Strike-slip fault- blocks of rocks slide past

one another parallel to the strike. This
occurs due to shearing forces on rocks.

Source:www.geologypage.com

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 If you are watching news, you may have heard of the word “focus” or
“epicenter” of the earthquake. What do these terms have to do with
earthquakes? You will be able to determine where an earthquake has
originated if you know the epicenter.

All earthquakes happen underneath the Earth. The focus is the point
where rocks rupture/break the most. Earthquakes originate in the focus.
Rupturing of rocks produces seismic waves carrying energy and travels to the
Earth’s surface that causes the shaking. The epicenter is the point in the
Earth’s surface directly above the focus. Earthquake is intense at this point
most often.

Those who live near the epicenter will

Source: www.differencebetween.net
experience more shaking and greater
damage compared to the places far
from the epicenter. Shallower focus
tends to exhibit greater damage
because of its distance to the Earth’s
surface compared to the focus that is
deeper from the surface. Earthquakes
can also generate tsunamis. A
seismograph is an instrument used to
detect and record earthquakes.

V. Activities

Activity # 1:
Encircle the letter of the correct answer for each question.

1. Lithospheric plates are also called _____?

A. atmospheric plates C. oceanic plates
B. tectonic plates D. continents

2. It is the outermost layer of the Earth where we live.

A. crust C. outer core
B. mantle D. outer core

3. The lithosphere is made up of what layers?

A. crust and inner core C. upper and lower mantle
B. mantle and inner core D. crust and upper mantle

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4. It is a type of fault where the hanging wall slips down relative to the footwall.
A. normal fault C. strike-slip fault
B. reverse fault D. none of the above

5. It is a type of fault where two blocks of rocks slide past each other.
A. normal fault C. strike-slip fault
B. reverse fault D. none of the above

6. It is the point in the Earth’s surface just above the focus.

A. epicenter C. focus
B. fault D. tectonic plates

7. Tensional forces are related to what type of fault?

A. normal fault C. strike-slip fault
B. reverse fault D. none of the above

8. Compressional forces are related to what type of fault?

A. normal fault C. strike-slip fault
B. reverse fault D. none of the above

9. It is a crack in the surface of the Earth where earthquake usually happens.

A. epicenter C. focus
B. fault D. tectonic plates

10. It is a type of fault where the hanging wall moves up over the footwall.
A. normal fault C. strike-slip fault
B. reverse fault D. none of the above

11. Shearing forces are related to what type of fault?

A. normal fault C. strike-slip fault
B. reverse fault D. none of the above

12. These are massive slabs of solid rocks that resemble a jigsaw puzzle that
continuously move just above the mantle.
A. atmospheric plates C. oceanic plates
B. tectonic plates D. continents

13. It is an instrument used to detect and record earthquakes.

A. Richter scale C. ammeter
B. seismograph D. electrometer

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14. It is where rocks beneath have the greatest movement and rupture.
A. epicenter C. focus
B. fault D. tectonic plates

15. Which of the following can an earthquake occur?

A. normal fault C. strike-slip fault
B. reverse fault D. all of the above

Activity # 2:

Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false. Write your answer on the
space provided.

____1. Tectonic plates are made up from crust and upper-lower part of mantle.
____2. In a normal faulting, there are tensional forces on blocks of rocks and
the footwall slides down relative to the hanging wall.
____3. The shallower the focus, the stronger the earthquake will be.
____4. Those who live in area near the epicenter of an earthquake will to
experience lesser damage.
____5. Seismic waves can travel from the underneath of the Earth and cause
shaking of the ground.
____6. The major causes of earthquakes are the tensional, compressional, and
shearing forces of blocks of rocks in a fault.
____7. Most earthquakes occur along faults.
____8. In a reverse faulting, there are compressional forces on blocks of rocks
where the hanging wall slides down relative to the foot wall.
____9. The type of stress when rocks are pushed toward each other is called
tensional force.
____10. Earthquakes can generate tsunamis.
____11. The type of stress when rocks slide past each other is called
compressional force.
____12. The point under the Earth's surface where rocks are under stress and
begin to break or move is called epicenter.
____13. Shearing forces produces strike-slip faulting.
____14. When tress is enough, rocks begin to break creating faults.
____15. Tensional force is when rocks are pulled apart from each other.

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Activity # 3:
Identify what is asked in the “DOWN” and “ACROSS” to complete the
crossword puzzle. Start writing your answers below/above/after each
number given in the puzzle.

Down:
2. Layer of the Earth where tectonic plates are situated.
3. Break/fracture in the Earth’s surface.
5. Type of stress where rocks move parallel to the line of the fault.
6. It is the result of sudden release of energy within the Earth.
8. Other term used to call lithospheric plates.
10. The point underneath the Earth where rupture starts and where an
earthquake originates.
12. Massive slab of rocks continually moving at slower rate resembling a jigsaw
puzzle.
13. Type of faulting where blocks of rocks mostly move horizontally.
15. Point above the hypocenter (focus).

Across:
1. Type of stress where rocks are pulled apart.
4. A fault where the hanging wall slides down relative to the foot wall.
7. A fault where the hanging wall moves up over the foot wall.
9. Huge waves sometimes are formed after an earthquake occurred.
11. Type of stress where rocks are squeezed together.
14. Wave carrying energy produced by an earthquake.

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Activity # 4:
Stick n’ Slip

Materials:
2 small boxes of fruit juice/shoe box, 1 paper clip, 1 rubber band, masking tape

Procedure:

1. Attach the rubber band to the paper clip.

Attach the paper clip to one end of the
fruit box.

2. Place the box side by side. Put a toy house

on the box with the rubber band. Tape the two
boxes lightly with a masking tape. The tape is
meant to come off.

3. With your left hand, hold the box without the

rubber band in place. With your other hand,
slowly pull the rubber band in the direction
shown on Figure 2.
Images Source: Science 8
learner’s module

Guide questions:

Q1. What happened to the box attached to the rubber band? (3 pts.)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Q2. What happened to the toy house? Why did it happen? (6 pts.)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Q3. Which is the fault on the set-up? In real life, what will be the effect if many
buildings and houses are built near that fault? (6 pts.)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Activity adapted from: Science 8 learner’s module

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VI. Assessment
Below is a map showing the fault (blue lines) in the Philippines. Study the
map and answer the guide questions below.

Source:www.researchgate.net

Guide questions:

1. Study the map and locate your place. Is your province or region situated
near an active fault? If so, what are the preparations you need to do if
an earthquake might hit your location?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

2. Is it important to know the location of active faults in your

province/area? Why?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Criteria
Content 5 points
Coherence 5 points
Originality 5 points
TOTAL 15 points

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VII. Reflection
How can you react to the given situations? Complete the sentences below (or
make a paragraph showing your response by completing the sentences below.)
You will be rated based on the following criteria:

Criteria
Content 5 points
Coherence 5 points
Originality 5 points
TOTAL 15 points

When blocks of rocks move along faults…

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

I must be always ready when an unexpected earthquake hits our city

because…
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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VIII. Reference

Earthquakes and faults. Retrieved September 06, 2020 from:

http://scecinfo.usc.edu/eqcountry/roots/basics.html#:~:text=The%20friction%20across
%20the%20surface,we%20feel%20during%20an%20earthquake.

Focus and epicenter. Retrieved September 06, 2020 from:

http://www.classzone.com/vpg_ebooks/sci_sc_8/accessibility/sci_sc_8/page_228.pdf

Fault. (2020) Retrieved September 06, 2020 from:

https://www.britannica.com/science/fault-geology

Geology: Earthquake concepts. Retrieved September 06, 2020 from:

https://digitalatlas.cose.isu.edu/teach/lsnho/geo17AK.pdf

Slideshare. (2013). K-12 Grade 8 Science Learners Module. Retrieved September 06, 2020
from: https://www.slideshare.net/nicogranada31/k-to-12-grade-8-science-learner-module

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 12
Answers may vary Answers may vary
Reflection Assessment
Down:
2. mantle 1. B
1. F
3. fault 2. A
2. F
5. shearing 3. D
3. T
6. earthquake 4. A
4. F
Answers may vary 8. tectonic plates 5. C
5. T
10. focus
6. T 6. A
12. lithosphere
7. T 7. A
13. strike slip
8. F 8. B
15. epicenter
9. F
9. B
10. T
Across: 10. B
11. F
1. tensional 11. C
12. F
4. normal
13. T 12. B
7. reverse
14. T 13. B
9. tsunami
15. T 14. C
11. compressional
14. seismic wave 15. D
Activity # 4 Activity # 3 Activity # 2 Activity # 1
IX. Answer Key
X. Development Team

Development Team of the Learning Activity Sheets

Writer: Maureen Q. Santos

Editor: Cristina L. Dizon, PhD
Reviewers: Ala M. Elagio, Madilyn C. Sangki, Joy M. Basa
Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Management Team: Engr. Edgard C. Domingo, PhD CESO V
Leandro C. Canlas, PhD CESE
Elizabeth O. Latorilla, PhD
Sonny N. De Guzman, EdD
Cristina L. Dizon, PhD
Elizabeth C. Miguel, EdD

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Division of Mabalacat

P. Burgos St., Poblacion, Mabalacat City, Pampanga

Telefax: (045) 331-8143

E-mail Address: mabalacatcity@deped.gov.ph

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