What happens under the ground when an earthquake takes place?

Answer 1

When an earthquake happens, seismic waves are formed. They are formed after two tectonic plates slide passed each other. When they slide passed each other, they get stuck, and when too much stress builds up there is a sudden release of energy. That is when the earthquake happens.

Answer 2

umm obviously ? Absolutely. In fact, you may feel it before anyone above ground does. I was at home in bed when the April 18th (2008) earthquake rattled the Midwest. I woke up feeling an extreme amount of pressure on my chest. A few seconds later, I began to hear a deep rumbling sound as though a helicopter was hovering over the house. Moments after that, I heard a rattling noise which sounded like someone was running down the hall of the floor above me. Now, being the cliched college student-slash-gamer, I live in my parents' basement (well, cliched except for the fact that I'm female), and my parents, on the floor above me, heard and felt nothing. In fact, I was convinced I'd just had a really bizarre nightmare... until I turned on the TV and discovered the morning news show was discussing the earthquake. The way I understand it, earthquakes we can feel typically consist of three waves of seismic activity: a P-wave (primary wave), an S-wave (secondary wave), and a surface wave. P-waves travel the fastest and are the weakest, S-waves are slower but stronger, and surface waves are the slowest and strongest. It stands to reason that I felt all three stages: the chest pains were caused by the P-waves, the rumble by the S-waves, and the rattle by the surface waves.

Answer 3

The earth isn't hollow and the earth's crust extends for hundreds of kilometers. A crack or fissure caused by an earthquake could be a few hundred metres deep at most. Of course if you fall down such a hole it will probably kill you.

Answer 4

A submarine would not normally react to an earthquake. As the seismic pressure waves move into and through the water, they would pass around the vessel. Remember that we're talking about just the seismic pressure waves and not any associated tsunami.

Answer 5

An earthquake is the result of pressure becoming too great a strain on the bedrock underground or near the surface. It is this shock that sends out waves (from the epicentre) that can cause damage to property and may result in loss of live. If the earthquake happens out at sea, a tsunami could make landfall and cause devastation to coastal regions.

Answer 6

The plates separate which causes vibration on ground level.

Answer 7

Yes but if it is a small earthquake you are less likely to notice it because you are probably moving at the time.

Answer 8

What happens is the earth's tectonic plates shift and come together or spread apart. They can form many things.

Answer 9

yes