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Earthquake

Subject: Social Studies and Population Education

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Overview

The shaking and vibrating of the earth surface is called an earthquake. The shaking may vary between very small tremors to a violent vibration. This note has information about an earthquake and its causes.
Earthquake

The shaking and vibrating of the earth surface is called an earthquake. The shaking may vary between very small tremors to a violent vibration.

Causes of Earthquake

Some major causes of earthquake are as follows:

  1. Tectonic activities: The crack or bend in the rock where movement takes place is called fault and the movement of the rock is called faulting. Earthquakes occur when rocks are subjected to stresses that they are not strong enough to withstand. It then spreads out in waves from the point of breakdown and produces the earthquake waves.
  2. Volcanic activities: In volcanic eruption not only magma but some smaller and bigger rocks are also forced out. Faulting, as well as the flow of such substances in the vent of the volcano, causes the vibration of the earth’s surfaces.
  3. Local activities: Many activities like an explosion of bombs, collapsing of mines, constructions of roads and dams etc. also support to cause an earthquake.

The point inside the earth where the earthquake originates is hypocenter. The point on the earth surface that is vertically above the hypocenter is called epicenter. Earthquake is measured in Richter scale.

Before earthquake
  1. Teachers, students including management committee should make a plan to be secure from the earthquake.
  2. Those places which are safe in accordance to the earthquake should be identified.
  3. The emergency materials and attendance register should be kept in the reachable place.
During earthquake

  1. All the teachers and students should stay under desk and bench and catch its legs.
  2. Where there are no desks and benches, all should go and sit in safe place and cover their heads with their hands, bags or books.
  3. If anything is not available for covering the head then, he/she should take a duck-cover hold position.
After earthquake

  1. Running, shouting, etc. should not be done.
  2. All should get out one by one in line without shouting and go towards the safe place.
  3. See if all of your friends came or not. If not, you should inform your teacher immediately.
  4. One should not go here and there as well as their home without the permission of the teacher.
Things to remember
  • The shaking and vibrating of the earth surface is called earthquake. 
  • The point inside the earth where the earthquake originates is hypo center.
  • The point on the earth surface that is vertically above the hypocenter is called epicenter.
  • Earthquake is measured in Richter scale.
  • The crack or bent in the rock where movement takes place is called fault and the movement of the rock is called faulting. 
  • It includes every relationship which established among the people.
  • There can be more than one community in a society. Community smaller than society.
  • It is a network of social relationships which cannot see or touched.
  • common interests and common objectives are not necessary for society.
Videos for Earthquake
During the earthquake tutorial. Are you prepared ?
Earthquakes
How does Earthquake occur?
Questions and Answers

Earthquake is defined as shaking or vibrating of earth surface.
Any three causes of earthquake are:

  1. Tectonic activities: The surface of the earth is affected by the tectonic forces. Tectonic forces include compression and tension in the plates. Due to these forces, faults occur in the earth crust, which make a certain portion of the plate rise up and some other portion to fall down. Such phenomenon produce vibration on the earth surface and earthquake occur.
  2. Volcanic eruption: During the volcanic eruption, lava comes out with a force resulting disturbances of the adjoining area of the earth crust causing an earthquake. Generally, the volcanic eruption is followed by an earthquake.
  3. Other causes: Other causes of earthquake are: Expansion and contraction of rocks, structures of the land surface, flood, landslide and soil erosion, artificial explosion during the construction of tunnels, roads, mine etc. it disturbs the earth surface and cause an earthquake.
The point inside the earth from where the earthquake begins is called the focus or hypocenter of the earthquake.

The point on the surface of the earth vertically above the hypocenter is called an epicenter of the earthquake.
The science that deals with the study of an earthquake is called seismology.

The scale that measures the magnitude of an earthquake is called Richter scale.

On the basis of the nature of shaking earthquakes are classified into two types. They are:

  1. Vertical earthquake
  2. Horizontal earthquake
    In a vertical earthquake, the vibration is up and down and in the horizontal earthquake, the vibration is lateral. Horizontal earthquake is more devasting than a vertical earthquake.

The effects of earthquake on environment are listed below:

  1. It may form cracks on the earth's surface and weaken the rocks for the landslide.
  2. It destroys life and property.
  3. It destroys development structures like roads, canals, communication networks, electrical supply and water supply.
  4. It collapses monuments, buildings, temple, towers and industries.
  5. Water resources get contaminated during the earthquake which leads many types of diseases.

Safety measures of earthquake are listed below:

  • Earthquake resistant buildings should be built.
  • Education concerning the safety measures of the earthquake should be introduced in the school curriculum.
  • The public should be made aware of a way of self-protection from the earthquake.
  • Skillful volunteer manpower should be developed and kept alert for emergency rescue.

Precautions to be adopted during earthquake are as follows:

  • As far as possible crouch under the table and protect the head from injury. Stand on the frame of the door until the shaking stops and stands from the sides of the window and outer wall of thehouse.
  • Help to evaluate disabled people like children, old aged people.
  • Stay far from big rocks, glasses and weak walls.
  • Turn off gases, electric current and water supply as soon as possible.
  • Stay in a safety place with patience and follow the instruction broadcast from the radio by the government.

Earthquake refers to shaking and vibrating movement of the earth surface. It moves up and down or sideways.

One place where an earthquake is most frequent is the surrounding places of the Pacific Ocean.

One measure to be safe from an earthquake is that we should come out of the house during an earthquake.

One effect of the earthquake is that it destroys properties.

A seismograph is an instrument used to measure the intensity of an earthquake.

The two major earthquake prone zone of the world are:
  1. The Asia Pacific Ocean
  2. The Rocky Mountain Range
  1. Hypocenter is the inner place of the earth where the earthquake originates at first. The epicenter is the place on the surface of the earth where the first vibration of the earthquake arrives from the hypocenter.
  2. Earthquake is the shaking movement of the earth surface. It occurs at the joining parts of the continental plates when they move floating in the very hot liquid or semi-liquid materials. The volcano is the spewing of the earth. It occurs where there is a crack on the surface of the earth or the weak place which cannot bear the pressure of hot liquid of the inner part of the earth.

Earthquake is a natural process of shaking movement of the earth surface but sometimes it becomes very dangerous and disastrous and takes the lives of thousands of people and property of enormous amount. The effects of earthquake are:

  1. The buildings and houses fall down due to the earthquake.
  2. Infrastructures like roads, bridge, industries, dams etc. are destroyed.
  3. Diseases and famine may spread.
  4. Earthquake causes landslide tsunami and storms. They cause a lot of damages.

The ways to be safe from earthquake are as follows:

  • Building earthquake resistant buildings
  • Education regarding safety measures should be provided.
  • Creation of skilled manpower for emergency rescue
  • Awareness should be provided to the public regarding self-protection.
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