- The magnitude of an earthquake; usually expressed by the Richter scale, is a measure of the amplitude of seismic waves. The magnitude of an earthquake is a measure of the amount of energy released, an amount that can be estimated from seismograph reading.
- The plane of origin of earthquake is called focus. The place on the ground surface, which is perpendicular to the focus or hypocentre is called epicenter.
- The waves generated by earthquake are called seismic waves and they are classified into 3 types such as
1. Primary Wave (P Waves) These are the waves of short wave length and high frequency. They are longitudinal waves and can travel through solid, liquid and gases.
2. Secondary Wave (S Waves) These are the waves of short wave length and high frequency. They are transverse waves, which travel through all solid particles.
3. Surface Waves or Long Waves (L Waves) They are the waves of long wavelength, confined to the skin of the earth's crust. It causes most of the earthquakes structural damage.
0 Comments