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What happens during an earthquake?
College of Charleston. Department of Geology and Environmental Science
College of Charleston. Department of Geology and Environmental Science
Abstract
Earthquakes occur because friction holds the rock masses on either side of the fault together,
while plate motion slowly bends and stretches the rock, storing energy much like the energy
stored in a stretched
rubber band. An individual
earthquake occurs when
the stored energy
becomes greater than the
friction, and the rock
masses suddenly slip
along the fault.
Issue Date
2007-10-29
Keywords
Earthquakes, Earthquakes--Study and teaching
Type
Text
Rights
Copyright status determined to be in the public domain on April 27, 2020 by United States Supreme Court ruling (Georgia et al., Petitioners v. Public.Resource.Org, Inc. : 590 U.S.__(2020))
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