GEOGRAPHY 2152 FINAL 2026
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION PAPER AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Earthquake magnitude.
Answer: The magnitude of an earthquake is expressed as a number
to one decimal place. This type of measurement was first developed
by Richter in 1935. The Richter Scale was a measure of the strength
of a wave at a distance of 100 km from the epicentre. Since then,
more accurate methods have been developed and the Richter scale is
no longer in use
◉ The moment magnitude scale.
Answer: The scale is determined by:
1. The area ruptured along a fault
2. The amount of movement along the fault
3. The elasticity of the crust at the focus (strength)
Similar to the Richter Scale, it is a logarithmic scale. Example: An M7
earthquake represents 10 times the amount of ground motion as M6
earthquake
◉ Magnitude and frequency of earthquakes.
,Answer: Except for very large earthquakes, the magnitude on the
Moment Magnitude Scale is similar to the Richter Scale. The
strongest earthquake to ever occur is M9.5 in Chile in 1960. In
Canada, it is M8.1 in B.C. in 1949. There are only a few M9+
earthquakes each century.
◉ Modified Mercalli intensity scale.
Answer: A qualitative earthquake measurement scale based on
damage to structures and the affect on people. It is based on 12
categories.
◉ Earthquake processes.
Answer: Earthquakes are most common at or near plate boundaries.
Motion at plate boundaries is not usually smooth or constant.
Friction along plate boundaries exerts a force (stress) on the rocks,
exerting strain or deformation. When the stress exceeds the strength
of the rocks, there is a sudden movement along a fault. The
movement (or rupture) starts at the focus and propagates in all
directions, called seismic waves. Thus, faults are considered seismic
sources. Identifying faults is necessary to evaluate the risk of an
earthquake in a given area. Not all faults reach the Earth's surface.
Blind faults are located below the surface
◉ Two types of faults.
Answer: 1. Strike-slip faults
2. Dip-slip faults
,◉ Strike-slip faults.
Answer: Displacements are horizontal (ex; San Andreas)
◉ Dip-slip faults.
Answer: Displacements are vertical. They are comprised of two
walls on an incline defined by miners:
1. Footwall (where miners place their feet)
2. Hanging-wall (where miners placed their lanterns)
◉ Three types of dip-slip faults.
Answer: 1. Reverse fault
2. Thrust fault
3. Normal fault
◉ Reverse fault.
Answer: The hanging-wall has moved up relative to the footwall
inclined at an angle steeper than 45 degrees
◉ Thrust fault.
Answer: These are similar to reverse faults except the angle is 45
degrees or less
, ◉ Normal fault.
Answer: The hanging-wall has moved down relative to the footwall.
(its hanging, gravity wants to go down)
◉ Fault activity.
Answer: 1. Active; Movement during the past 11 600 years
2. Potentially Active; Movement during the past 2.6 million years
3. Inactive; No movement during the past 2.6 million years
◉ Tectonic creep.
Answer: The slow movement of rock or sediment along a fracture
caused by stress. It is also referred to as fault creep. This can damage
roads and building foundations (movement of a few cm per decade).
Along these faults, periodic sudden displacements producing minor
earthquakes can also occur
◉ Seismic waves.
Answer: Some seismic waves generated by fault rupture travel
within the body of the Earth and others travel along the surface.
Body waves: These include P waves and S waves
◉ P waves.
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION PAPER AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Earthquake magnitude.
Answer: The magnitude of an earthquake is expressed as a number
to one decimal place. This type of measurement was first developed
by Richter in 1935. The Richter Scale was a measure of the strength
of a wave at a distance of 100 km from the epicentre. Since then,
more accurate methods have been developed and the Richter scale is
no longer in use
◉ The moment magnitude scale.
Answer: The scale is determined by:
1. The area ruptured along a fault
2. The amount of movement along the fault
3. The elasticity of the crust at the focus (strength)
Similar to the Richter Scale, it is a logarithmic scale. Example: An M7
earthquake represents 10 times the amount of ground motion as M6
earthquake
◉ Magnitude and frequency of earthquakes.
,Answer: Except for very large earthquakes, the magnitude on the
Moment Magnitude Scale is similar to the Richter Scale. The
strongest earthquake to ever occur is M9.5 in Chile in 1960. In
Canada, it is M8.1 in B.C. in 1949. There are only a few M9+
earthquakes each century.
◉ Modified Mercalli intensity scale.
Answer: A qualitative earthquake measurement scale based on
damage to structures and the affect on people. It is based on 12
categories.
◉ Earthquake processes.
Answer: Earthquakes are most common at or near plate boundaries.
Motion at plate boundaries is not usually smooth or constant.
Friction along plate boundaries exerts a force (stress) on the rocks,
exerting strain or deformation. When the stress exceeds the strength
of the rocks, there is a sudden movement along a fault. The
movement (or rupture) starts at the focus and propagates in all
directions, called seismic waves. Thus, faults are considered seismic
sources. Identifying faults is necessary to evaluate the risk of an
earthquake in a given area. Not all faults reach the Earth's surface.
Blind faults are located below the surface
◉ Two types of faults.
Answer: 1. Strike-slip faults
2. Dip-slip faults
,◉ Strike-slip faults.
Answer: Displacements are horizontal (ex; San Andreas)
◉ Dip-slip faults.
Answer: Displacements are vertical. They are comprised of two
walls on an incline defined by miners:
1. Footwall (where miners place their feet)
2. Hanging-wall (where miners placed their lanterns)
◉ Three types of dip-slip faults.
Answer: 1. Reverse fault
2. Thrust fault
3. Normal fault
◉ Reverse fault.
Answer: The hanging-wall has moved up relative to the footwall
inclined at an angle steeper than 45 degrees
◉ Thrust fault.
Answer: These are similar to reverse faults except the angle is 45
degrees or less
, ◉ Normal fault.
Answer: The hanging-wall has moved down relative to the footwall.
(its hanging, gravity wants to go down)
◉ Fault activity.
Answer: 1. Active; Movement during the past 11 600 years
2. Potentially Active; Movement during the past 2.6 million years
3. Inactive; No movement during the past 2.6 million years
◉ Tectonic creep.
Answer: The slow movement of rock or sediment along a fracture
caused by stress. It is also referred to as fault creep. This can damage
roads and building foundations (movement of a few cm per decade).
Along these faults, periodic sudden displacements producing minor
earthquakes can also occur
◉ Seismic waves.
Answer: Some seismic waves generated by fault rupture travel
within the body of the Earth and others travel along the surface.
Body waves: These include P waves and S waves
◉ P waves.
