Q: Answer

(A) Epicentre Explanation: The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus (hypocentre) of an earthquake, where seismic waves are first felt.

Q: Answer

(B) P-waves Explanation: P-waves (primary waves) are the fastest type of seismic wave, traveling through both solids and liquids.

Q: Answer

(B) Richter scale Explanation: The Richter scale is commonly used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake, quantifying the energy released.

Q: Answer

(C) Strike-slip fault Explanation: A strike-slip fault is associated with horizontal movement of tectonic plates, where the plates slide past each other laterally.

Q: Answer

(B) Underwater earthquakes Explanation: Underwater earthquakes, especially those that cause significant vertical displacement of the seafloor, are the main cause of tsunamis.

Q: Answer

(C) Seismometer Explanation: A seismometer is an instrument used to detect and record seismic waves generated by earthquakes.

Q: Answer

(B) Intensity Explanation: Intensity measures the amount of ground shaking at a specific location, often described using the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale.

Q: Answer

(C) Surface waves Explanation: Surface waves, which travel along the Earth's surface, cause the most damage during an earthquake due to their larger amplitude and longer duration.

Q: Answer

(B) A smaller earthquake that precedes the main shock Explanation: A foreshock is a smaller earthquake that occurs before the main shock of a larger seismic event.

Question 1

Answer

Accepted Answer

(A) Epicentre
Explanation: The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus (hypocentre) of an earthquake, where seismic waves are first felt.

Question 2

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) P-waves
Explanation: P-waves (primary waves) are the fastest type of seismic wave, traveling through both solids and liquids.

Question 3

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) Richter scale
Explanation: The Richter scale is commonly used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake, quantifying the energy released.

Question 4

Answer

Accepted Answer

(C) Strike-slip fault
Explanation: A strike-slip fault is associated with horizontal movement of tectonic plates, where the plates slide past each other laterally.

Question 5

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) Underwater earthquakes
Explanation: Underwater earthquakes, especially those that cause significant vertical displacement of the seafloor, are the main cause of tsunamis.

Question 6

Answer

Accepted Answer

(C) Seismometer
Explanation: A seismometer is an instrument used to detect and record seismic waves generated by earthquakes.

Question 7

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) Intensity
Explanation: Intensity measures the amount of ground shaking at a specific location, often described using the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale.

Question 8

Answer

Accepted Answer

(C) Surface waves
Explanation: Surface waves, which travel along the Earth's surface, cause the most damage during an earthquake due to their larger amplitude and longer duration.

Question 9

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) A smaller earthquake that precedes the main shock
Explanation: A foreshock is a smaller earthquake that occurs before the main shock of a larger seismic event.

Question 10

Answer

Accepted Answer

(A) Magnitude measures the size of an earthquake; intensity measures the damage caused
Explanation: Magnitude is a measure of the total energy released by an earthquake, while intensity measures the effects and damage caused by the earthquake at specific locations.

Question 11

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) Hypocentre
Explanation: The hypocentre, also known as the focus, is the initial rupture point within the Earth where an earthquake originates, and seismic waves are first generated.

Question 12

Answer

Accepted Answer

(C) Normal fault
Explanation: A normal fault is created by tensional forces, causing the hanging wall to move downward relative to the footwall.

Question 13

Answer

Accepted Answer

(C) Outer core
Explanation: P-waves travel through all layers of the Earth, including the crust, mantle, and core, while S-waves travel through the crust and mantle but cannot travel through the liquid outer core.

Question 14

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) By triangulating data from three or more seismograph stations
Explanation: Seismologists locate the epicentre of an earthquake by triangulating data from at least three seismograph stations, using the arrival times of P-waves and S-waves.

Question 15

Answer

Accepted Answer

(C) Moment magnitude scale
Explanation: The moment magnitude scale measures the total energy released by an earthquake and is considered more accurate than the Richter scale for large earthquakes.

Question 16

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) Earthquake
Explanation: An earthquake is characterized by the sudden release of stress along a fault line, resulting in ground shaking.

Question 17

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) S-waves
Explanation: S-waves, or secondary waves, move the ground up and down or side to side and only travel through solids.

Question 18

Answer

Accepted Answer

(D) The observed effects and damage caused by an earthquake
Explanation: The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale measures the observed effects and damage caused by an earthquake, describing the intensity of ground shaking at different locations.

Question 19

Answer

Accepted Answer

(C) It occurs when one tectonic plate is forced beneath another
Explanation: A subduction zone earthquake occurs when one tectonic plate is forced beneath another, often resulting in powerful seismic activity.

Question 20

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) An area where no earthquakes have occurred for a long period
Explanation: A seismic gap is an area along a fault where no earthquakes have occurred for a long period, which may indicate the potential for a future significant earthquake.

Question 21

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) When water-saturated sediments lose their strength and behave like a liquid during shaking
Explanation: Liquefaction occurs when water-saturated sediments lose their strength and stiffness due to the shaking during an earthquake, causing the ground to behave like a liquid.

Question 22

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) To detect and record seismic waves
Explanation: A seismograph is an instrument used to detect and record the vibrations produced by seismic waves during an earthquake.

Question 23

Answer

Accepted Answer

(A) Release of energy during an earthquake
Explanation: Elastic rebound theory describes the gradual buildup of stress along a fault line, which is eventually released as an earthquake when the rocks snap back to their original shape.

Question 24

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) Convergent boundary
Explanation: Convergent boundaries, where tectonic plates collide and one plate is forced under another, are most likely to produce the largest and most powerful earthquakes.

Question 25

Answer

Accepted Answer

(A) The release of residual stress along the fault
Explanation: Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that occur after a major earthquake, caused by the release of residual stress along the fault as the crust adjusts to the changes.

Question 26

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) By triangulating the position using multiple seismographs
Explanation: Seismologists use the time difference between the arrival of P-waves and S-waves at multiple seismograph stations to triangulate the position of the earthquake's epicentre.

Question 27

Answer

Accepted Answer

(A) It has a larger amplitude of seismic waves
Explanation: A higher magnitude on the Richter scale indicates a larger amplitude of seismic waves, which generally correlates with more energy released and potentially more damage.

Question 28

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) Trenches
Explanation: Trenches are deep, elongated depressions in the ocean floor commonly created at convergent plate boundaries where one tectonic plate is subducted beneath another.

Question 29

Answer

Accepted Answer

(A) P-waves
Explanation: P-waves, or primary waves, can travel through both the Earth's core and mantle, unlike S-waves which cannot travel through the liquid outer core.

Question 30

Answer

Accepted Answer

(B) Identifying areas at risk of seismic activity
Explanation: A seismic hazard map is used to identify areas at risk of seismic activity, helping planners and engineers design buildings and infrastructure to withstand potential earthquakes.

Category: Seismology

Important MCQ on Earthquake Seismology

Plate Tectonic Theory – Important MCQ

Internal Structure of The Earth – Important MCQ

RECENT POSTS

SUBSCRIBE NOW

GENERAL

USEFUL READS

HELPDESK

FOLLOW US