LESSON 5: EARTHQUAKES
Science
10-ENDURANCE | SIR RK | 1ST QTR 2022
WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE?
● Earthquakes are vibrations cause
d by earth movements at plate bou
ndaries and at major fault lines.
● An unpredictable event in which ro
ck shifts below earth’s surface, r
eleasing enormous amounts of en
ergy and sending out shock waves
that cause the ground to shake dra
stically.
● The most severe earthquakes are
normally found at convergent and t
ransform boundaries.
THE FOCUS & THE EPICENTER
● The point within earth where faultin
g begins is the focus, or hypocent
er.
● The point directly above the focu
s on the surface is the epicenter.
WHY DO EARTHQUAKES HAPPEN?
1. Plate Tectonics Theory
- Earthquakes are usually ca
used by sudden movement
s of earth plates.
2. Rupture of rocks along a fault
- Faults are localized areas
of weakness in the surface
of the earth.
3. Tectonic Forces
- The interior of the earth is d
ynamic, providing energy fo
r convective currents in the
outer core and in the asthe
nosphere.
THE RICHTER SCALE
Measures the magnitude of an earthquake u
sing a seismometer.
FAULT SYSTEMS IN THE PHILIPPINES
1. West Valley Fault
- Bulacan - Cavite - Laguna
2. East Valley Fault
- Rizal
EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS (EFFECTS)
1. Ground Shaking
- If an earthquake generates
a large enough shaking inte
nsity, structures like buildin
gs, bridges and dams can b
e severely damaged, and cl
iffs and sloping ground dest
abilized.
2. Tsunami
- Long wavelength oceanic w
aves generated by the sud
den displacement of seawa
ter by a shallow earthquake.
3. Landslides and Rockfalls
- Ground shaking due to eart
hquakes destabilises cliffs
and steep slopes, causing l
andslides and rockfalls as a
significant side-effect.
4. Subsidence and Lateral Spreadi
ng
- Subsidence, or lowering of
the ground surface, often
occurs during earthquakes.
5. Liquifaction
- Occurs when waterlogged
sediments are agitated by
seismic shaking. Building
s can sink down into the gr
ound or tilt over, while unde
rground pipes may rise up t
o the surface.