Subject Code: ES Earth Science

Module Code: 4.0 Earthquakes

Lesson Code: 4.1 Earthquake Generation
Time Limit: 30 minutes

Components Tasks

Target By the end of this module, the students shoud be able to:
1. Relate elastic deformation to the generation of earthquakes along faults
(Elastic Rebound Theory)

Hook Look at the seismicity map of the Philippines for the year 2016. What can you
notice? Grab a partner in school or at home and share your thoughts.

Figure 1. Seismicity Map of the Philippines (January 2016-December 2016)

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) [cartographer]. (2017). Seismicity Map of the
Philippines January 2016-December 2016 [map]. 1:24,000. Retrieved from
https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/vault/html/Seismicity%20Maps/2016/Whole%20Year/QGIS-PHILIPPINES-
Whole-Year-2016_.jpg

Earth Science Earthquakes Generation Page 1 of 6

 By now, you already know that faults are fractures in the Earth’s lithosphere created
by stresses and strains experienced by rocks. Notice how the earthquakes cluster in
the map. Most earthquakes cluster on areas near the fault lines. We also call fault
lines as earthquake generators. How do faults generate earthquakes? Let’s learn it
together.

Ignite Simply said, earthquakes are vibrations of the ground created as seismic waves pass
a point of the Earth’s surface or interior. Smaller magnitude earthquakes can be
created by massive landslides, meteorite impacts, and nuclear testing.

In the Philippines, we classify larger earthquakes into two categories based on their
origin. Earthquakes caused by movement of magma under the volcanoes or magma
fissures are called volcanic earthquakes. Larger and more destructive tectonic
earthquakes are usually created by movement of faults or plates.

Elastic Rebound Theory explains how energy that powers earthquakes are built up
and dissipated as seismic waves.The theory posits that rocks making up the
lithosphere can tolerate a limited amount of deformation until it reaches its elastic
limit. Materials can be bent and deformed and spring back to their initial state until
a certain degree. When they reach their elastic limit, they will have permanent
change in their shape or even break when additional force is applied.

Figure 2. Illustration of the elastic rebound theory.

Anonymous. (n.d.). Elastic Rebound Theory. [jpeg]. British Geological Survey.
https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/hazards/earthquakes/images/dia_crustal_stress.jpg

Rocks lock up, bend, and crumple within the fault and plate boundaries as stress and
strain builds up in the area. Stress and strain accumulate large amounts of elastic
energy in time until rocks in the region reach their elastic limit. When this happens,
rocks start to break and slip. Energy is then released as rocks spring back to their
original shape much like how rubber bands spring back to their old shape after being
stretched. The energy travels outwardly from the point of origin or focus to other
locations on the Earth as seismic waves which are experienced as earthquakes.

Take note that the build up of elastic potential energy in a fault happens over months,
years, decades, or even centuries! This is usually related to the recurrence interval
of earthquakes in a fault line. Recurrence interval is the average time between
consecutive earthquake episodes in a location. Longer the recurrence interval means
higher stored energy in the region. This means higher probability of large magnitude
earthquakes in the area.

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 Marikina West Valley Fault has a recurrence interval of about 400 - 500 years and
is said to power the Big One, with a potentially devastating earthquake in the nearby
region.

Figure 3. An idealized seismogram

Benjamin J. Burger. (2020). S-P-interval-seismogram-distance-to-earthquake. [jpeg]. Wikimedia
Commons.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S-P-interval-seismogram-distance-to-earthquake.jpg

Seismic waves carry the energy from the focus of an earthquake to other parts of the
Earth. Seismic waves that pass through the Earth’s interior are called body waves
(e.g. primary waves, secondary waves). On the other hand, surface waves (Rayleigh
wave, love waves) are seismic waves that travel on the surface.

Navigate Science At Home: Not My Fault!

Materials
• Uncooked Spaghetti Noodles or barbecue sticks
• Rubber band or Scotch tape
• Marker

Procedure

1. Prepare three sets of uncooked

noodles: 3 pieces, 10 pieces, and
30 pieces.

Earth Science Earthquakes Generation Page 3 of 6

 2. Bind the two ends of each bunch
or set with a rubber band or a
Scotch tape.

3. (optional) Mark the center of

each bunch. This will be your
fault line.

4. Firmly grasp each end of the first

set of uncooked spaghetti noodles
and slowly bend the noodles until
they break. Feel the vibration
from the ends of the noodles.

Observation Data
Table 1. Summary of Observations
3 noodles 10 noodles 30 noodles

Observations

Analysis
1. (5 points) In what way did the activity model earthquake production?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_________________________________ _______

2. (5 points) What are the differences between the vibrations you have
observed from each case?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________ _

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 3. (5 points) The pieces of noodles do not break at the same time and
you can feel the vibration each time a strand breaks. How does this
correspond to an actual earthquake event?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_ ___________________________

Rubric for Checking Answers

Proficient Emerging Beginning
(5-4 pts) (3-2 pts) (1-0 pt)

Correct answer in Minor conceptual Major conceptual errors;

complete sentence errors; not in complete faulty sentence
and specific sentence; vague construction; no
supporting details supporting details supporting details

Knot In summary:
● Earthquakes are vibration of the ground caused by seismic waves
● There are two types of earthquake: volcanic and tectonic.
● Elastic Rebound Theory explains how energy carried by earthquakes are
created and distributed
● Rocks break at a threshold value called the elastic limit.
● Surface waves and body waves carry energy away from the source of the
earthquake to other locations on Earth

GRADED ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT:

Create a video essay for a maximum of 1 minute explaining how earthquakes are
generated. Students can use digital tools as well as local materials that they can
find at home. Output for this assessment is GRADED.

Rubric for Checking Video Essay

Proficient Emerging Beginning
(5-4 pts) (3-2 pts) (1-0 pt)

Content Correct answer Minor Major

in complete conceptual conceptual
sentence and errors; not in errors; faulty
specific complete sentence
supporting sentence; construction;
details vague no supporting
supporting details
details

Quality of Concise; Wordy; missed vague; forgot

Presentation comprehensive out some major ideas in
; and clear important the discussion;
ideas; clear unclear

References

Earth Science Earthquakes Generation Page 5 of 6

 Tarbuck, E.J. &Lutgens, K.L. (2015) Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior. Earth Science (14th
ed.,pp. 265-271). Pearson Education Limited.

Hewitt, P.G., Lyons, S.A., Suchocki, J.A., & Yeh, J. (2014) Plate Tectonics. Conceptual
Integrated Science (2nd ed.,pp. 707-709). Pearson Education Limited.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. (n.d.). Introduction to Earthquakes.

PHIVOLCS. https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/earthquake/introduction-to-
earthquake

Prepared by: Rex S. Forteza Reviewed by: Edman H. Gallamaso

Position: Special Science Teacher IV Position: Special Science Teacher - V
Campus: PSHS-CLC Campus: PSHS-SRC

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