Question

An earthquake is caused by

• A. shaking of the earth
• B. strain building up in the tectonic plates
• C. plates slipping along the fault lines
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B strain building up in the tectonic plates

An earthquake is caused by strain building up in the tectonic plates.

Earthquake is shaking of the earth's surface caused by the rapid movement of the earth's rocky outer layer. Earthquakes occur when energy stored within the earth, usually in the form of strain in rocks, suddenly releases. This energy is transmitted to the surface of the earth by seismic waves.