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→About Earthquakes
==Key Stage 4==
===Meaning===
An '''Earthquake''' is when the ground undergoes a violent shaking motion as a result of [[tectonic plate|plate]] movement. This often results in damage to the [[local]] environment and severe loss of life.
===About Earthquakes===
'''Earthquakes''' occur along all three types of [[Tectonic Plate Margin]] when tension builds up as the [[Tectonic Plate|plates]] move.
At [[Conservative Plate Margin]]s as the plates grind past each other causing a build-up of [[friction]] causes . As tension to build between builds the plates as they move and this means that they eventually become stuck. As the plates are released and jerk away from each other they release shock waves that that spread from the [[Focus (Earthquake)|focus]] deep in the [[mantle]]. The shock waves are then felt on the surface of the [[crust]] in the form of an '''earthquake'''. The shock waves are most strongly felt at the [[Epicentre]] which is the point directly above the [[Focus (Earthquake)|focus]].
At [[Constructive Plate Margin]]s the plates are moving away from each other and this causes cracks in the plates as they move. Tension then builds in these cracks and is eventually released in the form of shock waves that can be felt of the surface of the earth at the [[crust]] as an '''earthquake'''.