Arrange the events to describe how an earthquake happens. The plates create great stresses in rocks near the edges of the plate. The intensity of the earthquake reduces with the distance from the epicenter. Large chunks of Earth called tectonic plates collide with each other. The seismic waves created at the hypocenter spread out radially and cause shaking wherever they travel. The energy released causes shaking of Earth in that position. The edges of the plates slide past each other in close contact. The separation of the plates release a great amount of energy. ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ The plates create great stresses in rocks near the edges of the plate. The intensity of the earthquake reduces with the distance from the epicenter. Large chunks of Earth called tectonic plates collide with each other. The seismic waves created at the hypocenter spread out radially and cause shaking wherever they travel. The energy released causes shaking of Earth in that position. The edges of the plates slide past each other in close contact. The separation of the plates release a great amount of energy. ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Here’s the correct sequence for how an earthquake happens:
- Large chunks of Earth called tectonic plates collide with each other.
- The edges of the plates slide past each other in close contact.
- The plates create great stresses in rocks near the edges of the plate.
- The separation of the plates releases a great amount of energy.
- The seismic waves created at the hypocenter spread out radially and cause shaking wherever they travel.
- The energy released causes shaking of Earth in that position.
- The intensity of the earthquake reduces with the distance from the epicenter.
Explanation:
The process begins when tectonic plates, which are massive sections of Earth’s crust, move toward each other, away from each other, or slide past each other. These plates are constantly shifting due to convection currents in the mantle beneath them. When they collide or interact at their edges, they create great amounts of stress on the rocks near those boundaries.
As the plates continue to move, they can get “stuck” due to friction. When the stress builds up enough, the plates suddenly shift, releasing the accumulated energy. This release of energy is what we experience as an earthquake. The point where this energy is first released beneath the Earth’s surface is called the hypocenter (or focus).
The energy travels in the form of seismic waves, which radiate outward from the hypocenter. These waves move through the Earth, causing the ground to shake. The area directly above the hypocenter on the surface of the Earth is known as the epicenter.
The shaking is most intense near the epicenter and decreases the farther you move from it. This is why earthquakes tend to cause the most damage near their epicenters.
