SCIENCE 10

Quarter 1: Earthquake Epicenter

CLODOMIRO O. MABINI
Subject Teacher
 SCIENCE 10

Lesson 1: Earthquakes and Types

of Waves
 Objectives

After going through this lesson, you are expected

to:

1. Define earthquake; and

2. Differentiate body waves from surface waves.
 PreTest
Multiple Choice: Select the best answer from the given choices
and write it in CAPITAL LETTER on a separate sheet of paper.
PreTest
PreTest
PreTest
ANSWER KEY
1. A
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. B
6. C
7. B
8. A
9. B
10.A
11. C
12.B
13.C
14.D
15.B
Figure 1.1. Pacific Ring of Fire
By definition, earthquake is the shaking and trembling of the
Earth’s crust caused by a sudden release of energy. It occurs
when rocks along a certain fault line suddenly move.

The study of earthquakes and the waves they create is called

seismology (from the Greek word “seismos” which means “to
shake”). In turn, scientists who study earthquakes are called
seismologists. During an earthquake, a sudden release of
stored energy in the Earth’s crust creates seismic waves.
Sometimes they cause tsunamis and fire which may lead to loss
of life and huge damage to property.

How would the surroundings be affected during an earthquake?

As an earthquake occurs, energy moves out in all directions from
the focus. The energy that is released is carried by a vibration
called seismic waves.
There are four (4) main types of seismic waves:
Types of Body Waves
P-Waves or Primary Waves
P-Waves or primary waves travel faster than other seismic
waves. It is considered as the first signal from an earthquake to
be felt. This may be transmitted through gases, liquids and
solids.

S-Waves or Secondary waves S-Waves or secondary waves

are a type of elastic wave and are one of the two main types of
elastic body waves. It is also called as shear waves.

The distance between the beginning of the first P wave and the
first S wave tells you how many seconds the waves are apart.
This number will be used to tell you how far your seismograph is
from the epicenter of the earthquake.
Types of Surface Waves

Love Wave
Love Wave is named after Augustus Edward Hough Love. It has
a horizontal motion that is transverse to the direction the wave is
travelling and is considered to be the fastest surface wave and
moves the ground from side to side.

Rayleigh Wave
Rayleigh Waves move in an elliptical motion, producing both
vertical and horizontal motions. This moves the ground up and
down and side to side in the same direction that the wave is
moving. It is named after Lord Rayleigh (John William Strutt).
Activity 1. Let’s Infer!
Assessment
Multiple Choice: Select the best answer from the given choices
and write it in CAPITAL LETTER on a separate sheet of paper.
ANSWER KEY
1. A
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. A
6. B
7. A
8. C
9. B
10.B
11. C
12.B
13.C
14.D
15.B
 SCIENCE 10

Lesson 2: Locating the Epicenter

Seismologists can locate the epicenter of an
earthquake by using triangulation method. When
seismic data is collected from at least three (3)
different locations, it can be used to determine the
epicenter of an earthquake by where it intersects.
Hence, scientists need at least three (3) seismic
stations to clearly identify the location.
 Objective
After going through this lesson, you are
expected to:

1.Differentiate epicenter from hypocenter of

an earthquake; and
2.Identify the different measurements used
to determine the magnitude of an
earthquake.
 PreTest
Select the correct from the given choices. Write your answer on
a separate sheet of paper.
ANSWER KEY
1. A
2. B
3. B
4. A
5. B
6. A
7. A
8. C
9. A
10.D
11. D
12.B
13.A
14.D
15.A
Seismologists, the scientists who study earthquakes, have
proven that seismic waves are caused by the sudden
breaking apart located within the earth or the slipping of
tectonic plates. The study of earthquakes and the waves
they created is called seismology (from the Greek word
“seismos” which means “to shake”).

During an earthquake, there is a sudden release of stored

energy in the Earth’s crust thus, seismic waves are formed.
Sometimes, they cause tsunamis and fire which may lead to
loss of life and huge damage to property.
triangulation
focus
epicenter
fault
earthquake
Location of the Epicenter
How to locate the earthquake epicenter?
In order to locate the epicenter of an earthquake, you need to
determine the time interval between the arrival of the P and S waves
(the S-P interval) on the seismo-grams from at least three different
stations.
Locating the epicenters will determine which fault lines are active.
Generally, the less active fault line stores great amount of potential
energy that could cause a major earthquake once released. Hence,
areas near fault lines that remain inactive for a long period of time
are prone to experience a major earthquake.
The distance between the beginning of the first P wave and the first S
wave tells you how many seconds the waves are apart. This number
will be used to tell you how far your seismograph is from the
epicenter of the earthquake. In order to locate the epicenter, the
distance between the first P wave and the first S wave is measured.
What causes an earthquake?
An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. The
tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at
their edges due to friction. The area where an earthquake
occurs is called fault, or where the surface slipped. In addition,
the location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake
starts is called the hypocenter or focus, and the location
directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the
epicenter.
The magnitude of an earthquake is based on the measurement
of the maximum motion recorded by a seismograph. The most
commonly used are the Local Magnitude (ML) or known as the
Richter magnitude, the surface wave magnitude (Ms), body -
wave magnitude (Mb), and moment magnitude (Mw).
What causes an earthquake?
 Assessment
Select the correct answer from the given choices.
Assessment
Assessment
Assessment
ANSWER KEY
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. A
5. B
6. B
7. D
8. A
9. D
10.D
11.D
12.B
13.A
14.A
15.D
 SCIENCE 10

Lesson 3: Measuring Earthquake and

Safety Precautionary Measures
 Objective

In this lesson, you will:

1. Identify the scale used to measure the

magnitude and intensity of an earthquake;
2. Determine the impacts of an earthquake; and
3. Identify the precautionary measures before,
during and after an earthquake.
 PreTest
Select the correct from the given choices.
PreTest
PreTest
Pretest
ANSWER KEY
1. D
2. C
3. D
4. A
5. C
6. D
7. D
8. A
9. C
10.D
11.B
12.D
13.A
14.C
15.B
In the previous lesson, locating an
earthquake’s epicenter is to be done through
the application of a triangulation method. In
this case, seismologists need to have at least
three seismic sites to locate the epicenter. It is
also imperative that we must learn about its
intensity, magnitude and the safety
precautionary measures.
Most earthquakes are caused by the sudden
slip along fault lines. It slips because of the
movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates
leading to ground shaking which further results
to landslides and other rock movements. Some
of the primary effects that are caused by
earthquakes are tsunamis, loss of properties
and lives, while the lack of water, food,
electricity and telecommunications are
considered as some of the secondary effects.
How can we measure earthquake?
Earthquake can be measured using a Richter
Scale and Mercalli Scale. Intensity is a
measure of the amount of earth shaking that
happens at a given location. This can be
measured through the Richter Scale.
Magnitude, on the other hand, measures the
size of the seismic waves or the amount of
energy released at the source of the
earthquake and will be measured using a
Mercalli Scale.
How can we measure earthquake?
Safety Precautionary Measures
What is the difference between a
10 magnitude earthquake and a 4
magnitude earthquake?
Suppose you are to hold a campaign
about earthquake awareness in your
community, what will you say to
effectively deliver your message?
Write a speech.
 Assessment
Multiple Choice. Choose the correct answer among the given
options on each item.
Assessment
Assessment
Assessment
ANSWER KEY
1. C
2. D
3. A
4. D
5. C
6. B
7. D
8. A
9. D
10.C
11. D
12.B
13.A
14.B
15.C
SCIENCE 10

UNIT TEST
UNIT ASSESSMENT
UNIT ASSESSMENT
UNIT ASSESSMENT
UNIT ASSESSMENT
ANSWER KEY
1. D
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. D
6. D
7. A
8. B
9. C
10.A
11. C
12.B
13.A
14.D
15.B