Which statement correctly describes why earthquakes happen? (1 point)
• Earth's crust switches places in a periodic manner.
Earth's crust undergoes a cycle from a solid material to magma.
• Earth's crust near magma melts, and the ground collapses.
• Earth's crust suddenly slips along a fault.
• Earth's crust suddenly slips along a fault.
Which describes the locations where Earth's volcanoes are formed? (1 point)
• They form along plate boundaries.
• They form in the interiors of continents.
• They form in areas where Earth's crust is thin.
• They form along the eastern coasts of continents.
• They form along plate boundaries.
What happens to the energy produced by blocks of Earth's crust slipping past each other? (1 point)
• It spreads out in random directions.
• It disappears at it moves through the crust.
It increases as it reaches the surface.
• It radiates outward in all directions.
• It radiates outward in all directions.
The correct statement that describes why earthquakes happen is: "Earth's crust suddenly slips along a fault."
To understand why earthquakes occur, it's important to know that the Earth's crust is not a single, solid piece. Instead, it is divided into several large, rigid sections called tectonic plates. These plates are constantly moving, albeit very slowly, due to the convective motion of the underlying mantle.
When these plates interact with each other at their boundaries, they can create areas of tension and stress. These areas are known as faults, which are essentially fractures in the Earth's crust. Over time, stress builds up along these faults as the tectonic plates continue to move.
Ultimately, when the stress becomes too great, the rocks on either side of the fault abruptly slip, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This sudden release of energy causes seismic waves to propagate through the Earth, resulting in an earthquake.
To determine which statement is correct, we can rule out the first option: "Earth's crust switches places in a periodic manner." This is incorrect because while the Earth's crust is indeed moving, it does not simply switch places in a periodic manner. The movement is more complex, driven by the continuous motion of tectonic plates.
The second option: "Earth's crust undergoes a cycle from a solid material to magma" is also incorrect. While the Earth's crust does transition into magmatic material below the surface, it doesn't undergo a distinct cycle related to earthquakes.
The third option: "Earth's crust near magma melts, and the ground collapses" is not entirely accurate either. Earthquakes are primarily caused by the slipping of tectonic plates along faults, not as a result of the ground collapsing due to melting magma.
Therefore, the correct statement is: "Earth's crust suddenly slips along a fault."