quiz

Earthquakes

1. What is the name of the study of earthquakes?

  • A) Seismology
  • B) Geomorphology
  • C) Vulcanology
  • D) Tectonics
A) Seismology Explanation

2. What is an earthquake?

  • A) Shaking of the Earth
  • B) Release of energy in all directions
  • C) Both A and B
  • D) Movement of rocks along a fault
C) Both A and B Explanation

3. Which type of earthquake waves are the fastest?

  • A) P-waves
  • B) S-waves
  • C) Rayleigh waves
  • D) L-waves
A) P-waves Explanation

4. Where is the “Ring of Fire” located?

  • A) Along the equator
  • B) Surrounding the Arctic Ocean
  • C) Encircling the Pacific Ocean
  • D) Sahara Desert
C) Encircling the Pacific Ocean Explanation

5. Which layer of the Earth experiences the majority of earthquakes?

  • A) Crust
  • B) Mantle
  • C) Core
  • D) None of these
A) Crust Explanation

6. Which scale was the first instrumental scale used to measure the size of an earthquake?

  • A) Richter magnitude scale
  • B) Surface wave magnitude scale
  • C) Moment magnitude scale
  • D) Mercalli intensity scale
A) Richter magnitude scale Explanation

7. What causes tsunamis?

  • A) Wind-driven ocean waves
  • B) Gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun
  • C) Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and underwater explosions
  • D) Storm surges and coastal erosion
C) Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and underwater explosions Explanation

8. Which type of waves are generated due to the release of energy at the focus of an earthquake?

  • A) Surface waves
  • B) Ocean waves
  • C) Atmospheric waves
  • D) Body waves
D) Body waves Explanation

9. Who developed the intensity scale for measuring the effects of earthquakes?

  • A) Charles Richter
  • B) Giuseppe Mercalli
  • C) John Milne
  • D) Hiroo Kanamori
B) Giuseppe Mercalli Explanation

10. Which earthquake event holds the record for the highest magnitude measured on a seismograph?

  • A) 1556 Shaanxi earthquake
  • B) 1976 Tangshan earthquake
  • C) 1960 Chilean earthquake
  • D) 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
C) 1960 Chilean earthquake Explanation

11. Which recorded tsunami is considered the most destructive in history?

  • A) Thera tsunami (c. 1580 BCE)
  • B) Krakatoa tsunami (1883 CE)
  • C) Indian Ocean tsunami (2004)
  • D) Sumatra tsunami (2019)
C) Indian Ocean tsunami (2004) Explanation

12. What is the magnitude range on the Richter scale that corresponds to “major” earthquakes?

  • A) 6.0–6.9
  • B) 7.0–7.9
  • C) 8.0 and higher
  • D) 5.0–5.9
B) 7.0–7.9 Explanation

13. What is the primary cause of tectonic earthquakes?

  • A) Volcanic activity
  • B) Plate collisions and movement
  • C) Meteorite impacts
  • D) Human activities
B) Plate collisions and movement Explanation

14. Which is the slowest seismic wave?

  • A) P-waves
  • B) S-waves
  • C) Surface waves
  • D) Body waves
C) Surface waves Explanation

15. Which earthquake event resulted in the highest number of recorded fatalities?

  • A) 1556 Shaanxi earthquake
  • B) 1976 Tangshan earthquake
  • C) 1960 Chilean earthquake
  • D) 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
A) 1556 Shaanxi earthquake Explanation

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