Earthquakes are most commonly caused by ______________.
A)explosions of nuclear bombs
B)undersea landslides
C)meteorite impacts
D)volcanic activity
E)sudden earth movements along faults

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Earthquakes are most commonly caused by sudden earth movements along faults. These movements can occur due to tectonic activity, which is the movement of the earth's plates. When these plates move, they can cause stress and strain to build up along faults. Once the stress and strain exceed the capacity of the rocks to hold them, the rocks suddenly break, causing the release of energy in the form of seismic waves, which we feel as earthquakes. Explosions of nuclear bombs, undersea landslides, and meteorite impacts can also cause earthquakes, but these causes are relatively rare compared to tectonic activity. Volcanic activity can also cause earthquakes, but this is usually due to the movement of magma beneath the earth's surface, rather than movements along faults.

Earthquakes Are Most Commonly Caused by ______________