WHAT IS A FAULT ?

WHY DO EARTHQUAKES OCCUR?


WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN EARTHQUAKES AND
FAULTS ?

Earthquakes are associated with faults . When
faults suddenly moves, an earthquakes occurs.
.

What do you think of this
picture?

 Fault-y setup

 Objectives:
After performing this activity, you should be able to:
1. describe the appearance of a fault; and
2. explain how a fault forms.
Materials Needed:
two sheets of cardboard (or folder)
fine sand
ruler
newspaper (or plastic sheet ) as wide as a newspaper page
 Continue…

1. Spread the newspaper on a table. Do the activity on
the newspaper.
2. Arrange the two sheets of cardboard edge to edge
(Figure 1).
 continue

3. Pour sand along the boundary of the two sheets
(Figure 2).
 continue

4. With the ruler, flatten the top of the sand and make
two parallel lines.
 
5. Now, move the sheets slowly in the direction shown
in Figure 3.
Q1. As you move the sheets, what is formed in the
sand?

Q2. What happens to the lines?

Now, study Figure 4. Do you see anything
unusual?

Analyze and explain the picture applying your
idea of faulting.

 A fault is a fracture or
zone of fractures between
two blocks of rock. Faults
 allow the blocks to move
relative to each other.
This movement may
occur rapidly, in the form
of an earthquake - or may
occur slowly, in the form
of creep. Faults may
range in length from a
few millimeters to
thousands of kilometers.
Most faults produce
repeated displacements
over geologic time.
 Complete the paragraph by filling up the
blanks with correct words.

A ___1_____ is a fracture or zone of fractures
between two blocks of___2___. Faults allow the
blocks to move relative to each other. This
____3______may occur rapidly, in the form of a
______4_____- or may occur slowly, in the form
of creep. Faults may range in length from a few
millimeters to thousands of kilometers. Most
faults produce repeated ______5____over
geologic time.
answer