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Understanding Earthquakes: Causes & Effects

An earthquake is caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that generates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range from weak tremors to powerful quakes that destroy cities. When tectonic plates or blocks of rock break due to built-up pressure, seismic waves cause the ground to shake. The point of initial rupture is the focus, while the epicenter is directly above on the surface. Earthquake detectors provide early warning by detecting preliminary seismic waves before stronger waves arrive. A simple homemade detector can be made using a battery, buzzer, and copper wires arranged to trigger the buzzer if vibrations cause the wires to touch.

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120 views5 pages

Understanding Earthquakes: Causes & Effects

An earthquake is caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that generates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range from weak tremors to powerful quakes that destroy cities. When tectonic plates or blocks of rock break due to built-up pressure, seismic waves cause the ground to shake. The point of initial rupture is the focus, while the epicenter is directly above on the surface. Earthquake detectors provide early warning by detecting preliminary seismic waves before stronger waves arrive. A simple homemade detector can be made using a battery, buzzer, and copper wires arranged to trigger the buzzer if vibrations cause the wires to touch.

Uploaded by

sangram jadhav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is

the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a


sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that
creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in size from
those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those
violent enough to toss people around and destroy whole
cities. The seismicity, or seismic activity, of an area is the
frequency, type, and size of earthquakes experienced over a
period of time. The word tremor is also used for non-
earthquake seismic rumbling.

At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by


shaking and displacing or disrupting the ground. When
the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the
seabed may be displaced sufficiently to cause a tsunami.
Earthquakes can also trigger landslides and occasionally,
volcanic activity.

In its most general sense, the word earthquake is used to


describe any seismic event—whether natural or caused by
humans—that generates seismic waves. Earthquakes are
caused mostly by rupture of geological faults but also by
other events such as volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts,
and nuclear tests. An earthquake's point of initial rupture is
called its focus or hypocenter. The epicenter is the point at
ground level directly above the hypocenter.
Why Do Earthquakes Happen?

Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground


suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of
energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground
shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing
against each other, they stick a little. They don't just slide
smoothly; the rocks catch on each other. The rocks are still
pushing against each other, but not moving. After a while,
the rocks break because of all the pressure that's built up.
When the rocks break, the earthquake occurs. During the
earthquake and afterward, the plates or blocks of rock
start moving, and they continue to move until they get
stuck again. The spot underground where the rock breaks
is called the focus of the earthquake. The place right above
the focus (on top of the ground) is called the epicenter of
the earthquake.
An earthquake detector can be a useful home safety
device because it alerts you to a quake some seconds
before it happens. During an earthquake two kinds of
waves are emitted from the centre: a small wave and a
dangerous wave. The small wave is faster, so it is the first
sign of the event if your house is located some kilometres
away from the centre.

An earthquake detector could also work in combination


with other devices, such as a gas valve.
Earthquake Sensor
What is a earthquake sensor?

It is something which gives a message when an earthquake


occurs.
We have done the same thing. We have basically made a box
out of a cardboard. Then we made a simple circuit of a
buzzer, battery and switch we just took two copper wires and
attached the positive and the negative of the battery. Then
made a loop of a copper wire and attached all the wire
horizontally secondly the other vertically.
Now if there is an earthquake then we will be SAFE

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