Writing about earthquakes

Writing about earthquakes

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This task is about earthquakes.

Question 1Change answer

Many scientific terms can be used when writing about earthquakes. Some of them are in the key list below. 
 

Key List
 
crust    Earth    epicentre    fault line    focu    Mercalli     plate 
boundary    Richter    s-wave    seismograph    seismometer    p-wave
 
Write a paragraph about earthquakes in the space below. The paragraph should explain
  • what happens when earthquakes occur,
  • where they occur,
  • the difference between the focus and the epicentre,
  • what are used to record earthquakes, and
  • how they are measured.
Use as many words from the key list as you can. Make sure that the words are used correctly so that someone who is studying science can understand what you have written.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Knowledge, Planet Earth
Keywords: 
Earth systems, earthquakes, vocabulary
Description of task: 
Students are given a key list of words associated with earthquakes. Student use these and their own knowledge to write a paragraph explaining five key points about earthquakes.
Answers/responses: 

 

Y10 (05/2003)

What
When blocks of rocks opposing each other move.

Where
Most earthquakes occur at fault lines/plate boundaries.

Focus vs Epicentre
The focus is the point in the Earth where the earthquake was situated. 
The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.

Detection
Seismographs are used to record the activity of an earthquake.

Measurement
The Richter or Mercalli scales are used in the measurement of earthquakes. (The Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, while the Mercalli scale measures intensity.)

NOTE: Students only need to name either the Richter or Mercalli scales.

 
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