Download Earthquakes WebQuest - Warren County Schools

Earthquakes WebQuest!
This is a webquest. You’ll need to use the internet to answer the questions below. You’ll
either need to type in this address http://express.howstuffworks.com/wq-earthquake.htm
or you can go to Mr Collins website and click on the “Earthquakes Webquest” Link
under today’s date. Put the answers to the questions on a separate sheet and then we’ll
glue that into your notebook.
1. Around 1912, German meteorologist Alfred Wegener developed a theory
called continental drift. He believed that about 225 million years ago, giant
landmasses gradually shifted and broke apart to form the continents as we
know them today. How many original "supercontinents" did Wegener's theory
of continental drift assume?
2. The Earth's crust is made up of a series twelve interconnected
landmasses are called tectonic plates. What are the major plates that affect
the United States?
3. Check out this hazard map showing probability for earthquakes. Why do
you think California has so many earthquakes but Florida doesn't? In what
hazard zone is your home located?
4. What is considered to be the most destructive earthquake in history?
When did it occur, where was it, what was its magnitude and how many
people died?
5. What are the three basic types of plate boundaries? Describe each briefly.
6. What are tsunamis, what causes them and how fast do they travel?
7. What are the two types of energy waves created by an earthquake and
how do they differ? Which type of wave travels faster?
8. How much more energy is released by a 7.2 earthquake than by a 6.2
earthquake?
9. What applications does seismology have besides measuring the
magnitude and location of earthquakes?
10. Where did most of the earthquakes happen last week?
11. Can scientists predict earthquakes?
12. How do scientists know where an earthquake actually occurred?