When Earth Moves fault


Earth’s plates


Earth’s plates can pull apart, grind against one another, or crash together as they move. The movement releases energy. It triggers an earthquake. Seismic waves ripple through the ground.


plate


plate


Measuring Earthquakes Hundreds of earthquakes strike Earth every day. Most are too small to feel. About 100 each year are big enough to cause real damage. Scientists want to learn more about


quakes so they can save lives and protect buildings. T ey use a tool called a seismograph to help detect earthquake waves. Some waves are short, but fast. T ey aren’t that deadly. Others are bigger, but slower. T ese waves can cause a lot of damage. T e quake in Haiti caused a lot of damage.


Be Prepared! As you’ve seen, earthquakes are dangerous. So scientists are studying them. T ey want to learn how to predict a quake. T at way, they could warn people that one is coming. Many scientists say they’ll


never be able to accurately predict earthquakes. Instead, they say, places near faults should be ready all the time. At least one country seems to have gotten ready. About a year aſt er the quake in Haiti, an even larger quake struck near Japan.


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