Question
Explain two ways in which the movement of tectonic plates causes earthquakes.
Answer
- Where two tectonic plates meet, stress builds up especially during subduction. The stress causes rocks on the edges to fracture which releases a lot of energy that triggers an earthquake.
- Where two tectonic plates slide along transform boundaries, friction causes the plates to lock temporarily building stress along the edges. Eventually, rock fracture occurs which triggers vibrations that lead to earthquakes.
- Along extensional boundaries, some rocks along either side of the fault may slip/slide triggering vibrations that cause earthquakes.
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