Frequently asked questions about earthquakes
1) Rocks break and move in the earth. Energy is released, and that’s what makes the ground shake.
2) The slow deformation of "tectonic plates". The rocks can break suddenly, releasing the stored energy as an earthquake.
3) The ground shaking may destroy buildings and hurt people.
4) No. People wrongly believe that suddenly a hole appears in the ground. This is only Hollywood's version of earthquakes.
5) Actually, all over the world; however, the so-called "Ring of Fire", which is around the Pacific Ocean, is probably one of the most active areas in the world.
6) Not really, and we certainly can’t tell their exact date, time and location in advance.
7) Yes. As a result of some human activities such as mining or underground nuclear explosions, there can be small ones.
8) Some international websites have lists of earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 and greater, and most countries have their own forums with information on local earthquakes.
9) No, they happen at more or less the same rate every year.