Earthquakes happen when the ground shakes! 🌍💥 It's like when you jump on a bed and it wobbles, but much bigger. The Earth has big puzzle pieces called plates that move a little bit every day. Sometimes they bump or rub against each other, and that makes the ground shake!
When this happens, it can make buildings wiggle and things fall down. But don't worry—grown-ups build strong houses to keep us safe! 🏠
Earthquakes are caused by the movement of Earth's tectonic plates! 🌎 These giant rocky pieces float on the hot, soft layer below (like soup bubbles!). When they slide, crash, or pull apart, energy is released—making the ground shake!
There are three main types of plate movements:
Scientists use seismometers to measure earthquakes. The bigger the shake, the higher the number on the Richter scale! 📊
Earthquakes occur due to the sudden release of energy along fault lines where tectonic plates interact. 🌋 Earth's outer shell (the lithosphere) is broken into plates that move at 1-10 cm/year—about as fast as fingernails grow!
| Type | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Convergent | Plates collide → mountains/volcanoes | Himalayas |
| Divergent | Plates separate → new crust forms | Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
| Transform | Plates slide sideways | San Andreas Fault |
Energy travels as seismic waves (P-waves arrive first, then S-waves). The epicenter is where shaking is strongest above the underground focus point. Modern buildings use base isolators to absorb shocks! 🏗️