Earthquake WebQuest
In this mini WebQuest, you are going to be researching earthquakes, causes of earthquakes, and how earthquakes are
measured. You will be visiting the websites below by clicking on the provided links. Find the answers from the webpages
and answer on the worksheet.
Part 1: Earthquakes USGS http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php
1. What is an earthquake?
2. What is a foreshock?
3. What is a mainshock?
4. What is an aftershock?
5. What causes earthquakes and where do they mostly happen?
6. Why does the earth shake when there is an earthquake?
7. How are earthquakes recorded?
8. How do scientists measure the size of earthquakes?
9. Describe P waves.
10. Describe S waves.
11. How can scientists tell where the earthquake happened?
12. Can scientists predict earthquakes?
Part 2: Geography4Kids Faulting http://www.geography4kids.com/files/earth_faulting.html
1. What happens when two plates meet?
2. Describe folding:
1
3. Describe faulting:
4. What are dip slips?
5. What does your textbook call dip slips?
6. What is a strike slip?
Part 3: Geography4Kids Earthquakes http://www.geography4kids.com/files/earth_earthquake.html
1. What causes the Ground to move?
2. What can earthquakes do to change the landscape?
3. Why can we feel earthquakes hundreds of miles away?
4. What are seismic waves?
5. What is the epicenter?
6. What is the focus?
Part 4: Checking Current Earthquakes http://earthquake.usgs.gov/
Click on the "Latest Earthquakes" Map. On the left side you will see a list of the latest earthquakes in the world that have
been 2.5 magnitude or higher.
1. What is the largest earthquake that have occurred today. ____________________
i. Give the time of the EQ _________________
ii. Give the magnitude_________________
iii. Give the location_________________
iv. Give the depth_________________
2. Zoom out on the map and see where these earthquakes have taken place (orange dots).
Where have most taken place? _________________________________________________
