The Earth’s Moving Puzzle Pieces
The ground we walk on might seem solid, but it’s made up of giant pieces called tectonic plates. These plates fit together like a puzzle and are always slowly moving. Sometimes, two plates push, pull, or slide past each other. When the pressure between them gets too strong, the plates suddenly shift. This sudden movement makes the ground shake. That’s what we feel as an earthquake.
Why We Feel Shaking on the Surface
The place deep underground where the plates move is called the focus, and the spot on the Earth’s surface right above it is called the epicenter. That’s where the shaking is felt the most. Earthquakes can be small, so light that we don’t notice, or big enough to move buildings. Scientists use special tools called seismographs to measure how strong earthquakes are and help keep people safe.
FAQs
Q: Can we stop earthquakes from happening?
A: No, we can’t stop them, but we can build stronger buildings and warn people faster to stay safe.
Q: Do earthquakes happen everywhere?
A: Some places, like California or Japan, have more earthquakes because they sit on the edges of tectonic plates.
