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What are earthquakes? |
- From the name itself, it says "earth"-"quake"
- The misconceived solid earth or ground is shaking violently
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Why earthquakes? |
- They are natural phenomena, just like raining, sun shine, snowing, etc.
- Occur due to motions and forces inside the planet Earth
- Tectonic plates on the crust & magma in the core & mantel interplay to cause quakes
- Reading 1; Reading 2
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Do earthquakes occur everywhere? |
- Theoretically no, as explained by the Plate Tectonic Theory
- Suppose all plates are stiff & cannot be broken, then earthquakes only occur along the edges of the plates & faults
- Try locating where faults & plates’ edges, those are prone to earthquakes
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Are we safe inside buildings? |
- It’s often NOT safe, though not necessarily dangerous
- Depends on the locations of earthquake & the building, ground conditions & the building’s resistance
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How do these affect our safety? |
- Being close to the earthquake epicenter is likely to be more dangerous
- Building in or close to an earthquake zone is likely to be dangerous
- Soft, damp, muddy ground close to the sea or rivers or lakes are prone to danger
- Buildings that are poorly designed & built as well as exclude vibration controls are more dangerous
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What effects do earthquakes have on buildings |
- Depends on building foundation, height, shape, material, location, weight, etc.
- Typically, tall, thin, brittle, heavy buildings with shallow foundations, few storeys and few walls (staircases, lifts, chutes) are more dangerous
- Reading 3; Reading 4
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What features of buildings show that they are stronger? |
- Typically, short, thick and wide buildings with ductile materials, walls & few weights are stronger & can withstand earthquakes better
- Reading 5; Reading 6; Reading 7
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Yes, I’ll remember that |
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