Earth Internal Process - SS3 Geography Past Questions and Answers - page 2

The main cause of earthquakes is the movement of Earth's tectonic plates.

The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the earthquake's origin. The origin, also known as the hypocenter, is the point inside the Earth where the energy is released.

The two primary types of seismic waves are P-waves (Primary waves) and S-waves (Secondary waves). P-waves are faster and can travel through both solid and liquid materials, while S-waves are slower and cannot pass through liquids.

Shock waves are powerful waves of energy that radiate outward from the earthquake's origin. They cause the ground to shake and are responsible for most of the shaking during an earthquake.

Human activities such as mining, drilling, and the injection of fluids into the Earth's crust can trigger earthquakes by altering the stress and pressure within the crust. This can lead to the sudden release of energy and the occurrence of seismic events.