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Earthquake Vocabulary Matching

Word Bank
Fault normal faults seismic waves
stress reverse faults focus
earthquake strike-slip faults epicenter
primary waves secondary waves surface waves
seismograph aftershock liquefaction
tsunami

1. Also called P waves. These waves are the fastest seismic waves and are the first
to reach any particular location after an earthquake occurs.
2. Also called S waves. These waves are the second seismic waves to arrive at any
particular location after an earthquake.
3. These waves move along Earth’s surface and cause the largest ground movements
and the most damage.
4. An instrument that constantly records ground movements.
5. A smaller earthquake that follows a more powerful earthquake in the same area.

6. A process in which the shaking of ground causes loose, wet soil to act like a liquid.

7. A water wave caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide.

8. In an earthquake, the point underground where the rocks first begin to move.

9. A fracture in Earth’s lithosphere along which blocks of rock move past each other.

10. The force applied by an object pressing on, pulling on, or pushing against another
object.
11. A shaking of the ground caused by the sudden movement of large blocks of rocks
along a fault.
12. In these faults, the block of rock above the fault plane slides down relative to the
other block.
13. Along these faults, the block of rock above the fault plane moves up relative to
the other block.
14. In these faults, blocks of rock move sideways on either side of the fault plane.

15. The vibrations caused by an earthquake.

16. The point on Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.
 Also called P waves. These
Primary waves are the fastest seismic
Waves waves and are the first to
reach any particular location
after an earthquake occurs.

Also called S waves. These

waves are the second seismic
Secondary waves to arrive at any
Waves particular location after an
earthquake.

These waves move along Earth’s

Surface surface and cause the largest
ground movements and the most
Waves damage.

An instrument that constantly

Seismograph records ground movements.
 A smaller earthquake that
Aftershock follows a more powerful
earthquake in the same area.

A process in which the shaking

Liquefaction of ground causes loose, wet
soil to act like a liquid.

A water wave caused by an

Tsunami earthquake, volcanic eruption,
or landslide.

In an earthquake, the point

underground where the rocks
Focus first begin to move.
 A fracture in Earth’s
Fault lithosphere along which blocks
of rock move past each other.

Stress The force applied by an object

pressing on, pulling on, or pushing
against another object.

Earthquake A shaking of the ground caused by

the sudden movement of large
blocks of rocks along a fault.

In these faults, the block of rock above the

fault plane slides down relative to the other

Normal
block.

Faults
 Along these faults, the block of rock above
the fault plane moves up relative to the other

Reverse
block.

Faults

Strike-Slip
Faults In these faults, blocks of rock move sideways
on either side of the fault plane.

Seismic The vibrations caused by an

earthquake.
Waves

The point on Earth’s surface

Epicenter directly above the focus of an
earthquake.