Earthquakes result from the _______release of elastic energy previously stored in rocks surrounding a zone of movement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Earthquakes are generally caused by the rapid release of elastic energy that has been stored in rocks along a fault zone. This sudden movement creates seismic waves that propagate through the Earth's crust and cause the ground to shake. While there can be slow movements along faults that do not result in earthquakes, the most common cause of earthquakes is a rapid release of energy.

Earthquakes Result from the _______Release of Elastic Energy Previously Stored