Video about earthquakes

This is a video on how earthquakes work. http://videos.howstuffworks.com/howstuffworks/236-how-earthquakes-work-video.htm#

The largest earthquake in the world since 1900

The largest earthquake in the world since 1900 was in Chile on 22 may 1960 at 19.11. The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.5 on the richter scale. The earthquake caused a tsunami with waves up 25metres high. The damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami affected Chile, Japan, The Philippines, New Zealand, Austrailia, Hawaii and the Aeutian Ilands in Alaska. Approximatly 5000 were killed from this earthquake.

The pictures above shows some of the damage caused by this earthquake.

Here is more photos that show the damage done by earthquakes

This phote is from www.survive-it.co.nz/.../Earthquake%20bldgs.jpg

This photo is from http://www.juicygeography.co.uk/googleearthsanfran.htm

This photo is from http://www.greatdreams.com/oil/peak_oil_consequences.htm it is of the damage from an earthquake in Japan in 2004.

The picture on the left shows the damage that can be caused by major earthquakes. This is a picture of the Hanshin Expressway in Japan, fallen on its side after the earthquake on 17th January 1995 that killed 1300 and injuerd thousands.
This photo is from www.scienceclarified.com/.../uesc_04_img0203.jpg

How earthquakes are measured

The vibrations made by earthquake are measured by a seismograph. This is then measured on the Richter Scale, which tells us how strong the earthquake is. Each recording is 10 times bigger than the next, for example a eaathquake measured 6 is ten times bigger than an earthquake measured 5 on the Richter Scale. An earthquake measured 2 on the Richter is usally the smallest earthquake felt by humans, and an earthquake measured 6 is thought to be a major eathquake. Severe earthquakes measure 8 or more on the Richter Scale.

What causes earthquakes

Earthquakes are caused by a sudden realease in energy from the earths plates. This happens where plates are colliding or passing each other and one plate slips which causes the sudden realease in pressure. The actual earthquake only lasts about one minute but then aftershocks, which are smaller tremors, take place after the earthquake and often cause more damage than the earthquake itself.