Film Science: Questions for: Earth Revealed - Earthquakes

Background: Why learn about earthquakes? Because earthquakes are all about waves and energy, waves and energy in the ground rather than in the water or air.

1. What aspect of Chinese mythology about earthquake creation is correct?

2. How are earthquakes related to the motion of the Earth's tectonic plates?

3. How does construction technology affect the loss of life during earthquakes?

4. Shock waves are released from stressed rock when it does what?

5. Primary seismic waves are what type of mechanical wave?

6. Secondary seismic waves are what type of mechanical wave?

7. Because P and S waves arrive at a seismic center at different times, the seismologists there can determine what about the earthquake's epicenter?

8. In 1935, who invented the scale most commonly used to describe earthquake energy?

9. An increase of just 1 unit on this scale indicates how much more earthquake energy?

10. Each year, how many earthquakes cause death and property damage?

11. Surface seismic waves have what type of motion?

12. What is the "natural period" of a building?

13. Geophysicists are using what California town as an earthquake "laboratory"?

14. What type of energy does the Vibrosize project use to reveal underground rock structures?

15. How does the creep-meter measure ground motion?

16. What type of waves are used by the geodometer to measure earth motions?

17. How can groundwater levels help predict an earthquake?

18. Why do geophysicists keep a close watch on the frequency and distribution of small earthquakes?

19. Think back to the video's opening comments. Why did the famous historian Will Durant say the existence and progress of civilization is subject to the whims of geologic forces?