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Quiz about Look Out Here Comes an Earthquake

Look Out! Here Comes an Earthquake! Quiz

Earthquakes can be nature's most devastating phenomenon. Most earthquakes are relatively harmless, but every so often, an earthquake occurs which results in huge casualties and property damage.

A multiple-choice quiz by trevor1968. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
trevor1968

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
260,510

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3077

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 158 (9/10), Guest 24 (6/10), Guest 64 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Three English professors developed the first instruments to study earthquakes. How did these instruments study earthquake movement? Hint

change of velocity

principle of inertia

weak anthropic principle

strong anthropic principle

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the depth of a shallow-focus earthquake? Hint

between 60 and 100 kilometers

all of these

between 100 and 300 kilometers

less than 60 kilometers

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Question 3 of 10

3. Different types of seismic waves are generated by earthquakes. What is the name of the wave that pushes and pulls similar to the motion of a slinky? Hint

Primary Wave

Tertiary Wave

Secondary Wave

Fourth Wave

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Question 4 of 10

4. Why was the 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran significant for historians? Hint

It destroyed a 2000 year old fort.

It uncovered royal tombs over 1000 years old.

It was the country's first earthquake in 500 years.

It was the deadliest earthquake on record.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who developed the scale for measuring the power of an earthquake? Hint

Charles Richter

Richter Ewing

James Richter

Richter Gray

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Question 6 of 10

6. In the 1880s, the first reliable seismic instruments were developed in which country? Hint

Mexico

Japan

China

England

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Question 7 of 10

7. Name a well known fault that separates the Pacific plate from the North American plate. Hint

Calaveras Fault

San Andreas Fault

Great Glen Fault

Pacific American Fault

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is the location on the Earth's surface directly above the place where an earthquake originates called? Hint

focus

fault

hypocenter

epicenter

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the twentieth century, along the coast of which country in South America did the largest earthquake occur? Hint

Argentina

Venezuela

Peru

Chile

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Question 10 of 10

10. If there are several earthquakes in a row, what is the name of the largest of these earthquakes? Hint

tertiary shock

foreshock

mainshock

aftershock

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 17 2024 : Guest 158: 9/10
Dec 13 2024 : Guest 24: 6/10
Dec 01 2024 : Guest 64: 7/10
Nov 30 2024 : Linda_Arizona: 9/10
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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Three English professors developed the first instruments to study earthquakes. How did these instruments study earthquake movement?

Answer: principle of inertia

The English professors John Milne, Thomas Gray, and James Ewing are credited with developing the first seismic instruments (seismographs) sensitive enough to be used to study earthquakes. Seismographs use the principle of inertia to study earthquake movement. This law states that an object will stay in uniform motion unless an outside force is applied to it.

2. What is the depth of a shallow-focus earthquake?

Answer: less than 60 kilometers

Earthquakes that are 60 kilometers or less in depth are referred to as shallow. Those that are generated between 60 and 300 kilometers are considered intermediate, and those with a focus greater than 300 kilometers are classified as deep.

3. Different types of seismic waves are generated by earthquakes. What is the name of the wave that pushes and pulls similar to the motion of a slinky?

Answer: Primary Wave

There are two types of seismic waves. The primary wave has a compressional motion similar to a slinky. The secondary wave has vertical movements. The primary wave moves faster than the secondary wave.

4. Why was the 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran significant for historians?

Answer: It destroyed a 2000 year old fort.

On December 26, 2003, a powerful earthquake destroyed much of the city of Bam. Not only did it destroy a 2000 year old fort built primarily of mud brick but the earthquake also killed over 43,000 people. The earthquake was reported to be a magnitude of 6.6.

5. Who developed the scale for measuring the power of an earthquake?

Answer: Charles Richter

Charles Richter, an American, invented the Richter scale which measures the actual power of an earthquake. The higher the reading, the more powerful and potentially dangerous the earthquake. For example, a reading of 6.0 is 10 times as powerful as a reading of 5.0.

6. In the 1880s, the first reliable seismic instruments were developed in which country?

Answer: Japan

England would have been a good guess but it's not the right answer. Although three men from England developed the first seismic instruments, they developed these instruments at an Imperial College in Tokyo, Japan. The first attempts to create seismometers took place in China during the Han dynasty.

7. Name a well known fault that separates the Pacific plate from the North American plate.

Answer: San Andreas Fault

The San Andreas Fault is 1,300 kilometers long and 16 kilometers deep into the earth. San Francisco and Los Angeles are on the Pacific plate while the rest of California and the U.S.A. is on the North American plate. The Pacific plate is moving to the northwest at a rate of around 3 to 4 inches per year.

8. What is the location on the Earth's surface directly above the place where an earthquake originates called?

Answer: epicenter

The first motion of an earthquake within the earth is called the focus. The hypocenter is the location of the focus. The epicenter is directly above the hypocenter.

9. In the twentieth century, along the coast of which country in South America did the largest earthquake occur?

Answer: Chile

The largest was the Chilean earthquake in 1960 which measured an unsurpassed 9.5 on the Richter scale.

10. If there are several earthquakes in a row, what is the name of the largest of these earthquakes?

Answer: mainshock

The smaller earthquake that occurs before the largest earthquake is called a foreshock. The largest earthquake that happens in the same place is called the mainshock. Then, the series of earthquakes that follow the main earthquake are called aftershocks.

Source: Author trevor1968

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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