Web Quest Exploring Web Quest Exploring EarthquakesEarthquakes

By: Sydney Pederson and By: Sydney Pederson and Brea SchornBrea Schorn

How many supercontinents did How many supercontinents did Alfred Wegener’s theory of Alfred Wegener’s theory of Continental Drift assume?Continental Drift assume?

Pangea was the Pangea was the only only supercontinent in supercontinent in Wegener’s theory.Wegener’s theory.

What are the major plates that What are the major plates that affect the United States?affect the United States?

The major plates The major plates that affect are that affect are Gorda and the Gorda and the North American North American plates.plates.

Why does California have more Why does California have more earthquakes than Florida?earthquakes than Florida?

California has a California has a higher hazard zone higher hazard zone than Florida than Florida because because California’s hazard California’s hazard zone is 32+ and zone is 32+ and Florida’s hazard Florida’s hazard zone is only 0-2.zone is only 0-2.

What hazard zone are we located What hazard zone are we located in?in?

Our hazard zone is Our hazard zone is located in the 0-16 located in the 0-16 area. area.

-The most destructive earthquake?-The most destructive earthquake?When did it occur, where was it, When did it occur, where was it,

what was its magnitude, and how what was its magnitude, and how many people died? many people died?

The magnitude was The magnitude was 9.1.9.1.

There were 227,898 There were 227,898 deaths in this deaths in this earthquake.earthquake.

The earthquake The earthquake Sumatra.Sumatra.

It occurred on It occurred on December December 26,2004.26,2004.

It happened in It happened in South East South East Indonesia.Indonesia.

What are the three types of plate What are the three types of plate boundaries?boundaries?

Convergent plate boundaryConvergent plate boundary

Transform plate boundaryTransform plate boundary

Divergent plate boundaryDivergent plate boundary

What is a Convergent plate What is a Convergent plate boundary?boundary?

A convergent plate A convergent plate boundary is when boundary is when two plates come two plates come together or together or converge.converge.

What is a Divergent plate What is a Divergent plate boundary?boundary?

A divergent plate A divergent plate boundary is when boundary is when two plates move two plates move away from each away from each other.other.

What is a Transform plate What is a Transform plate boundary?boundary?

A transform plate A transform plate boundary is when boundary is when two plates slip past two plates slip past each other, moving each other, moving in opposite in opposite directions.directions.

What are tsunamis, what causes What are tsunamis, what causes them, and how fast do they travel?them, and how fast do they travel?

Tsunamis are Tsunamis are gigantic ocean gigantic ocean waves.waves.

They are normally They are normally set off by undersea set off by undersea earthquakes.earthquakes.

Tsunamis travel at Tsunamis travel at about 500 mph.about 500 mph.

Tsunami in JapanTsunami in Japan

What are the two types of energy What are the two types of energy waves, how do they differ, which waves, how do they differ, which

wave travels faster?wave travels faster? The two types of The two types of

waves are primary waves are primary waves and secondary waves and secondary waves. waves.

They are different They are different because primary because primary waves move in a waves move in a compressional motion compressional motion and secondary waves and secondary waves move in a shear move in a shear motion.motion.

Primary waves travel Primary waves travel faster.faster.

How much more energy is released How much more energy is released in a 7.2 earthquake than by a 6.2 in a 7.2 earthquake than by a 6.2

earthquake?earthquake? A 7.2 earthquake A 7.2 earthquake

creates 10 times creates 10 times more motion in the more motion in the ground than a 6.2 ground than a 6.2 earthquake, the earthquake, the 7.2 earthquake 7.2 earthquake releases about 32 releases about 32 times more energy. times more energy.

What applications does What applications does seismology have besides seismology have besides

measuring magnitude and location measuring magnitude and location of earthquakes?of earthquakes?

Other applications Other applications would be that would be that seismology seismology provides means to provides means to monitor for nuclear monitor for nuclear used to test and used to test and build weapons. build weapons.

Where did most of the earthquakes Where did most of the earthquakes happen last week?happen last week?

Many of the Many of the earthquakes were earthquakes were in different areas of in different areas of the United States.the United States.

Can Scientists Predict Can Scientists Predict Earthquakes?Earthquakes?

No!No! Scientists cannot Scientists cannot

predict predict earthquakes and earthquakes and they may never be they may never be able to.able to.

Scientist have tried Scientist have tried to predict many to predict many earthquakes but earthquakes but never have never have succeeded.succeeded.

How do scientists know where an How do scientists know where an earthquake actually occurred?earthquake actually occurred?

They know where They know where earthquakes earthquakes occurred based on occurred based on how the plates how the plates move in the earth move in the earth and the fault zone and the fault zone locations.locations.