EOSC 110 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Longitudinal Wave, Transverse Wave, Love Wave
Document Summary
Earthquake is trembling or shaking of the ground caused by the sudden release of energy stored in the rocks beneath earth"s surface. When a rock breaks, waves of energy are released and sent out through the earth. These are seismic waves, the waves of energy produced by an earthquake. Elastic rebound theory, involves the sudden release of progressively stored strain in rocks, causing movement along a fault. More and more energy is stored in the rock as the bending becomes more severe. Eventually, the energy stored in the rock exceeds the breaking strength of the rock, and the rock breaks suddenly, causing an earthquake. The strain on the rock is released; the energy is expended by moving the rock into new position and by creating seismic waves. Earthquakes also occur during explosive volcanic eruptions and as magma forcibly fill under ground magma chambers prior to many eruptions. Focus, point within the earth where seismic waves first originate.
