Question 1

What is an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

An earthquake is when the ground shakes because rocks under the Earth's surface break suddenly. It's like when you snap a stick and it makes a cracking noise; the Earth's crust does something similar, causing the ground to move.

Question 2

Why do earthquakes happen?

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes happen because the Earth's plates, which are like big puzzle pieces, move and sometimes get stuck. When they suddenly move to get unstuck, it causes the ground to shake.

Question 3

Where do most earthquakes happen?

Accepted Answer

Most earthquakes happen near the edges of the Earth's plates, especially around the Pacific Ocean in a zone called the 'Ring of Fire.'

Question 4

Can we predict when an earthquake will occur?

Accepted Answer

We can’t predict exactly when an earthquake will happen, but scientists can estimate where and how strong they might be based on past activity and lots of data.

Question 5

What is a tsunami?

Accepted Answer

A tsunami is a series of really big ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. These waves are much larger than regular waves and can cause a lot of damage when they reach land.

Question 6

How does an earthquake cause a tsunami?

Accepted Answer

When an earthquake happens under the sea, it can move huge amounts of water, creating giant waves called tsunamis. It's like when you drop a rock in a pond and see ripples spread out.

Question 7

What's the difference between an earthquake and a tsunami?

Accepted Answer

An earthquake is the shaking of the ground, while a tsunami is big waves in the ocean caused by underwater earthquakes. Both can happen at the same time, especially if the earthquake is under the sea.

Question 8

Can earthquakes happen under the ocean?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and these are called undersea earthquakes. They can cause the sea floor to suddenly move, which might create a tsunami.

Question 9

What should you do if you feel an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

If you feel an earthquake, 'Drop, Cover, and Hold On.' This means get low, protect your head, and hold onto something sturdy until the shaking stops.

Question 10

What should you do if there's a tsunami warning?

Accepted Answer

If there's a tsunami warning, you should move to higher ground quickly and stay away from the beach and coastlines until it's safe.

Question 11

What tools do scientists use to study earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Scientists use special machines called seismographs to measure the size and strength of earthquakes. These machines pick up the vibrations in the ground caused by earthquakes.

Question 12

How do scientists know how big an earthquake is?

Accepted Answer

They use the readings from seismographs to determine how much energy was released by the earthquake. These readings help to assign a number on a scale called the Richter scale.

Question 13

Why are some earthquakes stronger than others?

Accepted Answer

Some earthquakes are stronger because more energy is released when the rocks break. The size of the area affected and the depth at which the earthquake occurs can also make it feel stronger or weaker.

Question 14

What are aftershocks?

Accepted Answer

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that happen after a big earthquake. They occur because the Earth's crust is still settling down after the main shock.

Question 15

Are there places without earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some places have very few or no earthquakes because they are not near the edges of the Earth's plates. These areas are in the middle of the plates.

Question 16

Can animals predict earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Some people believe animals can sense earthquakes before they happen because they act strangely. However, scientists are still studying this and we don't know for sure.

Question 17

What is a fault line?

Accepted Answer

A fault line is where two pieces of the Earth's crust meet and can move past each other. Most earthquakes happen near fault lines because that's where the crust is weakest.

Question 18

Why do tsunamis travel so fast?

Accepted Answer

Tsunamis travel fast because they carry a lot of energy through deep water in the ocean. In deep water, they can move as fast as a jet plane.

Question 19

How do tsunamis stop?

Accepted Answer

Tsunamis stop when they hit land or shallow water, which slows them down and makes the waves break and lose energy. However, this can cause flooding and damage.

Question 20

How do earthquakes change the Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes can create cracks, move land up or down, and change the shape of the land. Over time, they can even create mountains or change the course of rivers.

The Science of Earthquakes and Tsunamis - 20 FAQs Explained Simply