Earthquakes

and Faults
Science 8, Quarter 2
What is an earthquake?

An earthquake is
described as any
sudden shaking of
the ground that
often occurs along
geologic faults.
The focus or hypocenter
is where the earthquake
begins and the point
directly above the focus
is the epicenter, which is
where the greatest
damage takes place.
Source: https://www.nagwa.com/en/explainers/507156959068/
Types of Earthquakes
 Tectonic Earthquakes

It occurs when
Earth’s crust breaks
or moves due to
geological forces.

Source: https://res.cloudinary.com/dk-find-
out/image/upload/q_80,w_1920,f_auto/DCTM_Penguin_UK_DK_AL237190
_xwnkdp_hj1qjw.png
 Volcanic Earthquakes

It results from
tectonic forces
related to volcanic
activities.

Source: https://imageio.forbes.com/blogs-
images/startswithabang/files/2017/06/additional_eruption.jpg?format=jpg&widt
h=960
 Collapse Earthquakes

It usually occurs in
underground mines
that are usually
caused by seismic
waves from rock
explosions on the
Source:
https://www.businessinsider.com/earthquake-taiwan-east-coast-2018-2 Earth’s surface.
 Explosion Earthquakes

It occurs from the

detonation of any
nuclear or chemical
device.

Source:
https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopeners/could-nuclear-bomb-testing-cause-
earthquakes.html
During an earthquake, the
shaking of the ground
produces seismic waves
that travel to the different
parts of the earth and is
recorded using
seismogaphs.
There are two types of
seismic waves, the surface
wave and body wave. Body
waves travel faster than
surface waves.
 What is a fault?
A fault is a fracture
found between two
blocks of rock on
Earth’s crust where
compression and
tension forces cause
displacement of the
rocks.
Types of Faults
Hanging wall is a block
usually found above the
fault plane.

The foot wall is usually

found under the fault
plane.
 Normal Fault

• The hanging wall

moves relative to the
footwall.
• The forces in normal
faults are pulling apart
og extensional forces.
Source:
https://earthhow.com/types-of-faults/
 Reverse Fault

• The hanging wall

moves up relative to
the footwall.
• The forces that create
reverse faults are
compressional or
Source:
https://earthhow.com/types-of-faults/ pressing towards each
other.
 Strike-slip

• The motion of the

blocks is horizontal ot
sideways.
• It is also known as
transcurrent fault.
Source:
https://earthhow.com/types-of-faults/
Faults may be active or inactive.

Active faults are those that move

one or more times in the last
10,000 years.

Inactive faults are those that did

not move or have been inactive
for millions of years.
Magnitude
vs.
Intensity
Magnitude is an estimate of
the relative size or strength
of an earthquake. To
determine the magnitude of
an earthquake, the
amplitude or size of the
seismic waves is measured
using a seismograph.
 The Richter Scale that was
developed by Charles Richter
was used to measure the
magnitude of an earthquake.
 Richter scale of earthquake magnitude
magnitude level category effects earthquakes per year
generally not felt by
people, though
less than 1.0 to 2.9 micro more than 100,000
recorded on local
instruments
felt by many people;
3.0–3.9 minor 12,000–100,000
no damage
felt by all; minor
4.0–4.9 light 2,000–12,000
breakage of objects
some damage to
5.0–5.9 moderate 200–2,000
weak structures
moderate damage in
6.0–6.9 strong 20–200
populated areas
serious damage over
7.0–7.9 major large areas; loss of 3–20
life
severe destruction
8.0 and higher great and loss of life over fewer than 3
large areas
 Intensity is a number
(written in Roman Numerals)
describing the severity of an
earthquake in terms of its
effect on Earth’s surface and
on humans and their
structure on specific
location.
The commonly used scale to
measure the intensity of an
earthquake are the Rossi-
Forel scale and the Mercali
Scale. In 1931, the Mercali
scale wa modified by
Harry O. Wood and
Frank Neumann.
 In the Philippines, the
seismic scale used to
measure the intensity of an
earthquake is called the
PHIVOLCS Earthquake
Intensity Scale (PEIS). It has
been used to replace the
Rossi-Forrel Scale since
1996.
Seismic waves that results from
earthquakes pass through the
layers of the Earth. These waves
are generated from the focus of
an earthquake through a sudden
release of energy in the surface
of the Earth. Because the waves
travel to different directions,
they produce different types of
waves – surface waves and body
waves.
Surface waves travel through the
surface of Earth, whereas body
waves penetrate through the
layers of Earth.
 There are two types of body
waves, namely P waves or
primary waves and S waves or
secondary waves.
 When an earthquake is
detected using a seismograph,
the first to be recorded are the
P waves because they move
faster than S waves.

P waves travel to solid, liquid,

and gases.

S waves can travel only

through solids.
Underwater Earthquake
 Underwater Earthquake

Earthquakes may also take

place underwater.
According to PHIVOLCS,
when sea waves generated
through underwater
earthquakes reach heights
greater than 5 meters, they
are called tsunami.
How are tsunamis formed?
1. When an earthquake, lanslide,
or volcanic eruption happens
underwater, the ocean floor is
disturbed.
2. The disturbance will push the
water upward higher than sea
level due to sudden release of
intense energy.
3. Gravity acts on the upward
movement of water that results
in sideways oscillation.
4. Ocean water will be dragged
away from the shore.
5. The greater and taller waves
will hit back the shore.