Download Haiti`s Earthquake

By: Michael Viviano

Earth has four major layers. The inside is the inner
core, next the outer core, next the mantle, and the
crust is on the outside. The crust and part of the
mantle make up the plates of the Earth. The plates
are like pieces of a puzzle that slide against each
other. The edges of the plates are rough.
Sometimes they get stuck. A fault is the surface
where the two plates of the Earth slip causing an
earthquake. A fault is the surface where the two
plates of the Earth slip, causing an earthquake.
There is an inferno which is so hot the surrounding
rocks melt. These rocks are part of the huge plates
that lie beneath the outer grounds of Earth.

The earth's plates scrape each other’s plate
boundaries this builds up pressure, this pressure
makes the rocks crack open and make a fracture
or fault. This causes a powerful shock. The shock
waves travel outward from the focus, which is
where pretty much where most movement takes
place. The biggest, main earthquake is called the
main shock. An aftershock occurs afterwards in
the same place as the main shock. An aftershock
is a smaller earthquake. Aftershocks can continue
for weeks, months, and even years the point on
the earth's surface above the focus is called the
epicenter. This is where most of the damage is
pretty much caused by the earthquake takes place
 An
earthquake can be recorded by
an instrument called a
seismograph. A scientist can
measure the size of an earthquake
or the magnitude. The larger the
number the stronger the magnitude
of the earthquake. It is measured
by the Richter scale. Have you
ever been in an earthquake?