What is an Earthquake?

What Is An Earthquake?
An earthquake ia a sudden shaking of the earthquake. The main place area an eathquake stirkes is called the hypocentre. When the waves are the strongest they have reached the epicentre.

The Waves
There are two different types of waves: the P-wave and the S-wave. The P-waves or primary or push waves come firts and cause the loud rumbling noise. The S-waves, secondary or shear waves come second and cause the main rolling part of an earthquake.

How Do You Measure Earthquakes?
You measure earthquakes with a Richter scale or a seismograph. A Richter scale is easier to use because it is from technology. The seismograph just tells you the size of the waves.

The Fault Lines and Plates
Fault lines are the middle of two different plates. New Zealnad is half on one plate and half on another. Those particular platesare called the Australian Plate and one of the main plates, the Pacific Plate.

How are Volcanoes Related to Earthquakes?
Earthquakes actually cause volcanoes and this is how they do it:
First, they make the plates push together and over years grow into a mountain. After another couple of years, in some mountains, a vent forms in the middle, where the larva comes out of. That is how earthquakes make volcanoes.

If you are ever in an earthquake you should make sure you have all your survival items.