Earthquakes Facts for Kids
Sudden shaking of the ground caused by movements deep inside the Earth.
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Earthquakes Facts for Kids
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About this topic
Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates suddenly slip past each other, releasing built-up energy as seismic waves. Thousands happen every day, but only about 100 cause damage each year.
Quick Facts
Key Points
Earth's crust is divided into about 15 major tectonic plates
The focus is the underground point where the earthquake starts
The epicentre is the point on the surface directly above the focus
The largest recorded earthquake was 9.5 magnitude in Chile (1960)
P-waves arrive first, followed by more destructive S-waves
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⚡ What causes them?
Earth's crust is broken into tectonic plates that slowly move. When plates grind against, collide with, or pull away from each other, stress builds up until the rock suddenly snaps - causing an earthquake.
Go deeper📊 Measuring earthquakes
Seismographs detect and record ground movement. The Richter scale measures magnitude - each whole number increase represents 10× more ground movement and 32× more energy.
Go deeper🏠 Staying safe
During an earthquake: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Get under sturdy furniture, protect your head, and stay away from windows. Buildings in earthquake zones are designed to flex rather than break.
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