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Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Period: ________
VOCABULARY TERMS
Topics: Earthquakes
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Vocabulary Term
Modeling (scientific)
Definition
Scientific modeling is a scientific activity that aims to make a particular
part or feature of the real world easier to understand or simulate.
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Earthquake
Vibrations caused by the rupture and sudden movement of rocks along a plate
boundary or fault in Earth’s crust.
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Model (scientific)
A “testable idea” created by the human mind that tells a story about what
happens in nature. All models have limitations — no model can possibly
explain every detail of a scientific phenomena.
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Seismic
Scientists use seismic waves to measure how big an earthquake is. They
use a device called a seismograph to measure the size of the waves. The
size of the waves is called the magnitude.
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Refraction
The bending of seismic or energy waves when they pass through one medium
(substance) to another.
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Particle Motion
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Types of Earthquake
Waves
The movements of particles of material as specific types of waves move
through a specific material.
Primary Wave: Known as a “p-wave”, is a type of seismic wave that causes
particles in the ground to move in a push-pull motion similar to a coiled spring.
Secondary Wave: Known as a “s-wave”, is a type of seismic wave that causes
particles to move in an up-down motion.
Rolling Wave: Known as a “r-wave”, is a type of surface seismic wave that on
the surface of the Earth moves in a rolling manner.
Lateral Wave: Known as a “l-wave”, is a type of surface seismic wave that on
the surface of the Earth moves in a side-to-side manner.
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Epicenter
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Focus
The location on Earth’s surface directly above an earthquake’s focus.
A single location inside the Earth where seismic waves originate and rocks first
move along a fault.
(Hint: This is the starting point for an earthquake.)
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Seismic Shock Wave
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Aftershock
Energy that travels as vibrations on and in Earth. They move quickly at 20
times the speed of sound.
A smaller earthquake following the main shock of a large earthquake.
Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Period: ________
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Trenches
A deep “ditch” in the ocean floor formed at subduction zone due to a
convergent plate boundary. It is here where earthquakes are common due to a
slab-pull motion generating a lot of friction between plates.
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Friction
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Richter Scale
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Mercalli Scale
Friction is the resistance of motion when one object rubs against another.
Anytime two objects rub against each other, they cause friction.
A numerical scale for expressing the magnitude (strength) of an
earthquake based on seismograph readings. This scale ranges from 0 to 10,
where a 10 is the strongest reading.
A scale of earthquake intensity based on human observed effects. The
scale ranges from I (detectable only with instruments) to XII (causing
almost total destruction). Scale is from 1-12.
(Hint: Roman numeral I = 1)
(Hint: Roman numeral XII = 12)
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Seismometer
An instrument that measures and records ground motion and can be used to
determine the distance seismic waves travel.
(This picture below shows an image of a seismograph recording) YOU DO
NOT NEED TO DRAW THIS.
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Triangulation
A method used to determine exactly where the earthquake’s epicenter is
located. It is called triangulation because a triangle has three sides, and it
takes three seismographs (devices that detect earthquakes) to locate an
earthquake.
Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Period: ________