Earthquakes

• • Earthquakes are sudden tremors or vibrations in the earths crust
• • When plates are colliding with or sliding past each other, there can be a build up of pressure along the fault line. When the plates move, the sudden release of pressure results in an earthquake
• • The point beneath the surface where the earthquake happens is called the focus
• • The point on the surface directly above the focus is the epicentre. The tremors or vibrations are strongest there, the greatest damage occurs there.
• • The small tremors that occur after an earthquake are aftershocks
• • example: earthquakes have happened along the San Andreas Fault in the US