Transcript Haley Z

Earthquakes
By: Haley Z.
Q: what are Earthquakes?
• A: Earthquakes are the Earth's natural means of releasing stress.
When the Earth's plates move against each other, stress is put
on the lithosphere. When this stress is great enough, the
lithosphere breaks or shifts. Imagine holding a pencil
horizontally. If you were to apply a force to both ends of the
pencil by pushing down on them, you would see the pencil
bend. After enough force was applied, the pencil would break in
the middle, releasing the stress you have put on it. The Earth's
crust acts in the same way. As the plates move they put forces
on themselves and each other. When the force is large enough,
the crust is forced to break. When the break occurs, the stress is
released as energy which moves through the Earth in the form
of waves, which we feel and call an earthquake.
Q: Where do Earthquakes occur
most often?
• You will find that most places around a volcano, a fault line, or plate
boundary are more prone to earthquakes. There are a total of fifteen
plates on the earth. Each of these plates is constantly moving. When
plates collide it’s called a convergent boundary. When to plates travel
away from each other its call divergent boundary. When two plates
slide past each other it’s called a transform fault.
Q: How likely is your area to
experience an Earthquake?
•
Most Hoosiers, and other residents of the American Midwest, don't think much
about earthquakes. After all, all of the earthquakes we hear about are in
California, Japan, Italy, or other far away places. Make no mistake, some of
the biggest and most devastating earthquakes in North American
history were right here. And, by many accounts, big earthquakes are due again.
Now, we may be offered some buffer here in south-central Indiana because we
sit on beds of Oolitic limestone. But, even that is limited security in the case of
earthquakes having a Richter Scale score above 8.0.
.
Safety plan
•
•
Choose a safe place in every room--under a sturdy table or desk or against an
inside wall where nothing can fall on you.
Practice DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON at least twice a year. Drop under a
sturdy desk or table, hold on, and protect your eyes by pressing your face
against your arm. If there's no table or desk nearby, sit on the floor against an
interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on
you. Teach children to DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON!
Choose an out-of-town family contact.
Consult a professional to find out additional ways you can protect your home,
such as bolting the house to its foundation and other structural mitigation
techniques.
Take a first aid class from your local Red Cross chapter. Keep your training
current.
Get training in how to use a fire extinguisher from your local fire department.
•
Inform babysitters and caregivers of your plan.
•
•
•
•
Earthquake risk area in Indiana
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
affect many peoples lives
President letter
President of the United State
Pennsylvania Avenue
NW Washington D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President
I am very pleased you have taken the time from your busy schedule to read my report. Below you will find information on
earthquakes as you requested.
Most earthquakes have been occurring around mainly the North American Plate Also many have occurred around the Ring of
Fire. Most earthquakes are more likely to occur at plate boundaries. The plates smash and grind against each other
sometimes causing earthquakes.
You will find that most places around a volcano, a fault line, or plate boundary are more prone to earthquakes. There are a
total of fifteen plates on the earth. Each of these plates is constantly moving. When plates collide it’s called a convergent
boundary. When to plates travel away from each other its call divergent boundary. When two plates slide past each other
it’s called a transform fault.
Yes there is a close relationship between volcanoes and earthquakes. When two plates collide and form a convergent
boundary then thicker layer is forced under the other plate. This is a subduction zone. As the plate travels deeper into the
earth’s interior it gets hotter and melts. After it melts it forms magma, since the magma will be less dense than its
surroundings it will be forced upward. When it reaches the earth’s surface it forms a volcano. Also since these plates are
smashing and colliding into each other earthquakes occur. Basically volcanoes from usually around where many