Download Exercise 1

Questionnaire for Module 1
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
1) What kind of plate boundaries are studied to know the magnetic anomalies of
earth? What kinds of faults exist below these plate boundaries? Why magnetic
anomalies are useful in plate tectonics?
2) How does a P-wave shadow zone form on earth’s surface? How does S-wave
shadow zone form on earth’s surface? Why is S-wave shadow zone much bigger
than P-wave shadow zone?
3) If the epicenter of an earthquake lies on the surface trace of the fault plane,
what would be dip and strike of the fault plane? What types of movements can
occur along such fault during an earthquake?
4) Show the variation of shear wave velocity from crust to core of the earth,
explaining the reasons for the same.
5) Explain how volcanoes are formed.
6) How do the geologists determine the age of sea floor?
7) Explain the situations that cause the formation of arcs, mountains and magnetic
anomalies during earthquakes, mentioning the types of movements involved.
8) In which direction and at what velocity is the Indian plate is moving currently?
9) Explain the theory of continental drift and the evidences for it.
10) Assuming P and S wave traveled through the crust at 6 km/sec and 3 km/sec
respectively, estimate the possible location of the epicenter P of a shallow
earthquake if P forms an equilateral triangle with two points A (10,10) and B (35,
10) on the ground surface. What is the difference in the arrival time of P and S
waves at A and B?