Name: M.

Iqbal Ali Rabbani

Class: Intermidiate 2/1

Earthquake
An earthquake is a shock wave that radiates to the Earth’s surface from
underground. Causing a range of effects from unnoticeable, mild tremors to violent,
prolonged shaking, an earthquake is a natural phenomenon that occurs frequently
only in certain areas of the world. The place where an earthquake begins underground
is called the hypocenter, and the area on the Earth’s surface directly above the
hypocenter is called the epicenter and receives the most powerful shock waves.
Movement in the Earth’s crust causes an earthquake. The Earth is made of an
inner core, an outer core, and a mantle, and the final layer is a thin crust covering the
mantle, which is the surface of the Earth including all the oceans and continents. The
crust is made of separate rocky portions called tectonic plates, which lie on the mantle
like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. But the jigsaw puzzle is mobile, and the plates move
around. Some slide past each other horizontally, some push together and force the
ground upward, some slide beneath another plate and some pull apart. Whenever a
tectonic plate moves suddenly, this causes an earthquake.
The sudden release of friction and pressure between tectonic plates causes an
earthquake. Tectonic plates are made of rough rock and cannot slide past each other
smoothly. Friction prevents movement at the plate edges while the rest of the plates
continue to move, causing a buildup in pressure. When the pressure overcomes the
friction, the plates move suddenly, and shock waves from this sudden movement
radiate through rock, soil, buildings, and water. Usually, small foreshocks occur at
first, followed by one big mainshock. Aftershocks follow and can continue for weeks,
months or even years.
An earthquake damages buildings and land causes tsunamis and has many
other disastrous effects. Violent shaking from an earthquake collapses buildings,
which causes the most deaths and casualties, and destroys power lines and ruptures
natural gas supply lines, causing fires. Land can also collapse or pull apart, causing
more buildings to fall. Tsunamis occur after an earthquake on the ocean floor. The
water shock wave travels through the ocean until it dissipates or meets land. If the
wave meets land, the water piles up, creating a single wave or a series of large waves
that sweep inland, causing death and destruction.
Take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture or seek cover against an interior
wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Avoid danger spots near
windows, hanging objects, mirrors, or tall furniture. Hold the position until the
ground stops shaking and it is safe to move.