Learning Task 2: Restate the cause and effect of an earthquake in the given informational text below. Do this in your notebook. Why do earthquakes happen? Earthquakes usually happen when underground rocks along a fault break. This sudden release of energy causes the shaking of the Earth’s surface. When tectonic plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. They don’t just slide smoothly; the rocks catch on each other. The rocks break because of all the pressure that was built up. When rocks break, blocks of rocks start moving, and they continue to move until they reach a new resting position. The place where the earthquake starts is called the focus of the earthquake. The place right above the focus (on top of the ground) is called the epicenter of an earthquake.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Cause and Effect of an Earthquake
Cause: Earthquakes happen when underground rocks along a fault break. This occurs due to the pressure built up between tectonic plates rubbing against each other. As the plates move, they stick together and do not slide smoothly, causing the rocks to catch and build up pressure over time.
Effect: The sudden release of energy from the breaking rocks causes the shaking of the Earth’s surface. This shaking can cause significant damage to structures and the environment. When the rocks break, blocks of rocks move, continuing until they reach a new resting position. The location where the earthquake begins is called the focus, and the spot on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus is called the epicenter.
Explanation:
Earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. The Earth’s outer shell is divided into several large sections called tectonic plates, which are constantly moving, although very slowly. When these plates rub against each other, they can become stuck due to friction. This sticking point results in the accumulation of stress and pressure.
Eventually, the stress becomes too much for the rocks to hold, causing them to break. This sudden release of energy from the breaking rocks is what generates seismic waves, which travel through the Earth and are felt as shaking on the surface. The location where the rocks first break is known as the focus (or hypocenter). The epicenter is directly above the focus on the Earth’s surface.
After the rocks break, they move along the fault line until they settle into a new position, which can sometimes result in the formation of new faults or changes in the landscape. The movement of these blocks of rock is what causes the ground to shake during an earthquake, and the intensity of the shaking depends on factors like the amount of pressure built up and the size of the fault.
