Science Quarter 2 - Module 2: Earthquake “ Focus and Epicenter “ Magnitude and Intensity * Active and Inactive Fault 1.A Focus and Epicenter An earthquake is a sudden motion of the earth. It is also forms of wave energy that are transmitted through bedrock. The point (or region) where an earthquake ruptures and the rocks break is called the focus (hypocenter). ‘The focus is the underground point of origin of an earthquake. It is where the first movement occurs. ‘The point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus is called the epicenter. 1.B Magnitude and Intensities of Earthquakes A device called seismograph can measure the strength of an earthquake. The strength of an earthquake is expressed in two ways, magnitude and intensity. Intensity measures the amount of damage caused by the shaking at a particular location caused by an earthquake. It is determined by observing the effects of the earthquake in different places. Houses, buildings, and other structures are inspected. People are interviewed about what they saw, how they feel, or what they did. The intensity of an earthquake will vary depending on where you are, its value changes from location to location. Modified Mercalli Scale and the Rossi-Forel scale, measure the amount of shaking. It is expressed using Roman numerals(I,IL,I1) Magnitude measures the amount and duration movements of energy released by an earthquake. Magnitude scales, like the moment magnitude, measure the size of the earthquake at its source. It is a measure of the size of the earthquake source, it is the same number no matter where you are or what the shaking feels like. The magnitude do not depend on where the measurement is made. The magnitude scale is based on seismic records. Thus, the magnitude scale is considered scientifically more objective and therefore more accurate. It uses Hindu-Arabic numerals (2,3,4,5.3)1.C Active and Inactive Faults Active fault has generated earthquakes before and is capable of causing more in the future, when it has moved within the last 10,000 years. Scientists use different ways to find out if a fault is active;1) checking the country’s historical records; 2) studying the vibrations, past and present that come from faults, and 3) observing the surroundings Inactive faults are faults that do not show signs of generated earthquake within the last 10,000 years but possibly still generate earthquake in the future. If a fault has been inactive for a million of years, it’s certainly safe to call it inactive. However, some faults have earthquakes once in thousands of years. Table 1. Earthquake magnitude and correlated intensity I Deseription/Damage Notte [Not fet except by a very few under especially favorable conditons. Fe only by afew persons al res especialy on upper floors of buldngs. Fe quite noticeably by persons indoors, especialy on upper ors of buldngs. Standing motor cars lmay rock shay. Vibrations simdar to the passing ofa truck. Duration estimated. 40-49 50-59 [Fek indoors by many, outdoors by few. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed, wals make cracking Sound | Sensation ke heavy tuck srking building, Standing motor cars rocked noticeaby. Fektby nearly everyone. Some windows broken. Unstable objects ovrtumed. [FeRby ll Some heavy uriture moved, a few inslances of falen plaster. Damage Sight Damage negigte in buldings of good design and construction; sight to moderate in wel-buit structures, considerable damage in pooty but or structures, 60-69 Damage sight in special designed stucures, considerable damage in ordinary buldings wih partial |cotapse. Damage gratin poy buit structures, Fall of chimneys, monuments, wal. [Damage considerable in specaly designed structures. Damage great in substantial buildings, wth partial cotapse. Buidings sited of foundations. 7.0 and higher ue xla als se =] = -L-ED PP AE tf qeelei [Some weilbult wooden strucures destroyed, most masonry and Fame structures destioyed wi loundatons. Rails bent. |Few, t any (masonry) structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Rais bent greatly. [Total damage. Lines of sight and level are distorted. Objects thrown into the ai Figure 2: Magnitude and Intensity