Test 2 Actual Exam Questions
slow deformation - CORRECT ANSWER Which of the following describes the type of deformation
experienced by rocks before an earthquake?
Elastic deformation causes objects to bend, whereas rebound causes objects to return to their
original shape. - CORRECT ANSWER How are elastic rebound and elastic deformation different?
stretching a rubber band; breaking a rubber band - CORRECT ANSWER Elastic deformation before
an earthquake is like _______, whereas rupture is like__________.
The fence will bend in the direction of stress. - CORRECT ANSWER What will happen to a straight
fence that undergoes elastic strain during an earthquake?
"shaking" particle motion at right angles to the direction of wave travel - CORRECT ANSWER Which
of the following is a characteristic of an S wave?
compression and expansion - CORRECT ANSWER What best describes the movement of P waves?
have the slowest velocity - CORRECT ANSWER Amongst all seismic waves, surface waves
__________.
wave speed - CORRECT ANSWER The names primary and secondary refer to ___________.
Surface waves show smaller amplitude at Station 2. - CORRECT ANSWER Which of the following
correctly compares the seismograph readings from Station 1 to Station 2, as shown in the video?
The point on Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake. - CORRECT ANSWER Which
of the following responses best describes the epicenter of an earthquake?
the difference in arrival time of P and S waves - CORRECT ANSWER In calculating the location of the
epicenter of an earthquake, which of the following factors is most useful?
three - CORRECT ANSWER In addition to a travel-time graph, at least how many seismograph
stations are needed to determine the location of the epicenter of an earthquake?
, P waves are faster than S waves. - CORRECT ANSWER As the distance between the epicenter of an
earthquake and a seismograph station increases, so does the difference in the arrival times of the P
and S waves. What causes this?
Plate boundaries are locations on Earth where portions of the lithosphere interact as they move past
each other. - CORRECT ANSWER Which statement provides the best explanation of why most
earthquakes occur at plate boundaries?
A qualitative measure of the amount of ground shaking at a certain location. - CORRECT ANSWER
Define earthquake intensity.
colder crust - CORRECT ANSWER A smaller earthquake in Virginia was felt over a larger distance, as
compared to a larger earthquake in California. What is a reason this occurred?
S minus P wave time; maximum S wave height - CORRECT ANSWER Richter magnitude (ML) is
derived from measuring __________ and __________, and then plotting them on a Richter diagram.
Moment magnitude measures the total energy released during an earthquake and can adequately
measure the energy of large earthquakes. - CORRECT ANSWER Why is moment magnitude (MW)
preferred over Richter magnitude (ML)?
The motion of the students' bodies in the water-rich soil caused it to flow like a fluid. - CORRECT
ANSWER Examine the accompanying image. Which of the following best describes why the ground
surrounding the students looks dry and solid, while the ground underneath them is wet and muddy?
Note that when the students arrived at this place, all the ground appeared solid and no earthquake
occurred while they were at the site.
The shaking causes water from between grains to move and push grains apart, weakening the
material and allowing it to flow like a slurry. - CORRECT ANSWER Which of the following is the best
description of what happens to water-saturated soils during an earthquake?
The water is from the pore spaces between the sand grains. - CORRECT ANSWER Jogging on a
beach where the sand is packed together, near where ocean waves meet the sand, you notice that
your footprints quickly fill with water after each step. Waves are not filling them up. Instead, there is
another reason. Where is the water coming from?
slow deformation - CORRECT ANSWER Which of the following describes the type of deformation
experienced by rocks before an earthquake?
Elastic deformation causes objects to bend, whereas rebound causes objects to return to their
original shape. - CORRECT ANSWER How are elastic rebound and elastic deformation different?
stretching a rubber band; breaking a rubber band - CORRECT ANSWER Elastic deformation before
an earthquake is like _______, whereas rupture is like__________.
The fence will bend in the direction of stress. - CORRECT ANSWER What will happen to a straight
fence that undergoes elastic strain during an earthquake?
"shaking" particle motion at right angles to the direction of wave travel - CORRECT ANSWER Which
of the following is a characteristic of an S wave?
compression and expansion - CORRECT ANSWER What best describes the movement of P waves?
have the slowest velocity - CORRECT ANSWER Amongst all seismic waves, surface waves
__________.
wave speed - CORRECT ANSWER The names primary and secondary refer to ___________.
Surface waves show smaller amplitude at Station 2. - CORRECT ANSWER Which of the following
correctly compares the seismograph readings from Station 1 to Station 2, as shown in the video?
The point on Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake. - CORRECT ANSWER Which
of the following responses best describes the epicenter of an earthquake?
the difference in arrival time of P and S waves - CORRECT ANSWER In calculating the location of the
epicenter of an earthquake, which of the following factors is most useful?
three - CORRECT ANSWER In addition to a travel-time graph, at least how many seismograph
stations are needed to determine the location of the epicenter of an earthquake?
, P waves are faster than S waves. - CORRECT ANSWER As the distance between the epicenter of an
earthquake and a seismograph station increases, so does the difference in the arrival times of the P
and S waves. What causes this?
Plate boundaries are locations on Earth where portions of the lithosphere interact as they move past
each other. - CORRECT ANSWER Which statement provides the best explanation of why most
earthquakes occur at plate boundaries?
A qualitative measure of the amount of ground shaking at a certain location. - CORRECT ANSWER
Define earthquake intensity.
colder crust - CORRECT ANSWER A smaller earthquake in Virginia was felt over a larger distance, as
compared to a larger earthquake in California. What is a reason this occurred?
S minus P wave time; maximum S wave height - CORRECT ANSWER Richter magnitude (ML) is
derived from measuring __________ and __________, and then plotting them on a Richter diagram.
Moment magnitude measures the total energy released during an earthquake and can adequately
measure the energy of large earthquakes. - CORRECT ANSWER Why is moment magnitude (MW)
preferred over Richter magnitude (ML)?
The motion of the students' bodies in the water-rich soil caused it to flow like a fluid. - CORRECT
ANSWER Examine the accompanying image. Which of the following best describes why the ground
surrounding the students looks dry and solid, while the ground underneath them is wet and muddy?
Note that when the students arrived at this place, all the ground appeared solid and no earthquake
occurred while they were at the site.
The shaking causes water from between grains to move and push grains apart, weakening the
material and allowing it to flow like a slurry. - CORRECT ANSWER Which of the following is the best
description of what happens to water-saturated soils during an earthquake?
The water is from the pore spaces between the sand grains. - CORRECT ANSWER Jogging on a
beach where the sand is packed together, near where ocean waves meet the sand, you notice that
your footprints quickly fill with water after each step. Waves are not filling them up. Instead, there is
another reason. Where is the water coming from?
