- What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is a vibration or shaking of the Earth's crust.
- Where are most earthquakes located?
Most earthquakes are located on or near plate boundaries.
- What causes an earthquake?
Friction between rocks can result in a great deal of stored energy as a result of stress buildup between the rocks. An earthquake is caused by the rapid release of this energy as the rock deforms and eventually breaks.
- Can earthquakes occur in areas outside of plate boundaries? Explain.
Yes, earthquakes can occur outside of plate boundaries. They can occur anywhere there is a fault zone.
- How can volcanoes be responsible for earthquakes?
The movement of molten material in a volcano can trigger earthquakes.