Earthquake

An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of stored energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes are accordingly measured with a seismometer, commonly known as a seismograph. The magnitude of an earthquake is conventionally reported using the Richter scale (with magnitude 3 or lower earthquakes being hard to notice and magnitude 7 causing serious damage over large areas). For example, the earthquakes that occurs in Sumatra recently has a magnitude of 7.9 Richter scale. It causes some houses to crumble and it also damaged large areas.

At the Earth's surface, earthquakes may manifest themselves by a shaking or displacement of the ground. Sometimes, they cause tsunamis, which may lead to loss of life and destruction of property. An earthquake is caused by tectonic plates getting stuck and putting a strain on the ground. The strain becomes so great that rocks give way by breaking and sliding along fault planes.

Earthquakes may occur naturally or as a result of human activities. Smaller earthquakes can also be caused by volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts, and nuclear experiments.

Mochammad Taufan
16607259

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