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GCSE AQA Geography help

How are earthquakes formed in destructive, constructive, and conservative margins?
Original post by khanyewest
How are earthquakes formed in destructive, constructive, and conservative margins?


When the plates move past each other, they do not move smoothly. This causes friction between the plates. The friction and pressure builds up causing the plates to eventually jerk past each other resulting in the release of seismic energy, which is felt as an earthquake.

Hope this helps. :smile:
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Avatar for 'Chris'
'Chris'
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How Earthquakes Occur at the Three Types of Plate Margins

Destructive

Tension builds up when one plate gets stuck as it's moving down past the other into the mantle.

Constructive

Tension builds up along the cracks within the plates as they move away from each other.

Conservative

Tension builds up when the played that are grinding past each other get stuck.


-At all plate boundaries, the plates eventually jerk past each other, sending out shock waves. These vibrations are the earthquake.

-The shock waves spread out from the focus- the point in the Earth where the earthquake starts. Near the focus the waves are stronger and cause more damage.

-The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface straight above the focus.

-Weak earthquakes happen quite often, but strong earthquakes are rare.

Learn all of this and full marks are guaranteed :wink:.
(edited 9 years ago)

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