Question

Which of the following is the main cause of the earthquake?
A) Change in temperature and pressure below the ground level
B) Floods
C) Drought
D) Shining of tectonic plates

Answer 1

Hint: An earthquake (also called a quake, tremor, or temblor) is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere, which results in seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in size from those that are too little to be felt to those that are powerful enough to throw things and people into the air and destroy entire towns. The number, kind, and size of earthquakes experienced throughout time define an area's seismicity, or seismic activity. The non-earthquake seismic rumbling is also referred to as a tremor.

Complete answer:
The shining of tectonic plates following is the main cause of the earthquake.A sudden slip on a fault causes an earthquake. The tectonic plates are always moving slowly, but friction causes them to become stuck at their edges. When the force on the edge overcomes the friction, an earthquake occurs, releasing energy in the form of waves that travel through the earth's crust, causing the shaking we experience.

There are two plates in California: the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate is made up of the majority of the Pacific Ocean floor as well as the California coastline. The North American Plate encompasses the majority of the continent of North America as well as portions of the Atlantic Ocean floor. The San Andreas Fault is the main dividing line between these two plates.

The San Andreas Fault stretches for almost 650 miles and reaches depths of at least 10 miles. Many smaller faults, such as the Hayward in Northern California and the San Jacinto in Southern California, branch off from the San Andreas Fault Zone and join it.

The shining of tectonic plates following is the main cause of the earthquake. Therefore the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note: At a rate of around two inches each year, the Pacific Plate grinds northwestward past the North American Plate. Parts of the San Andreas Fault system "creep" in response to the displacement, resulting in numerous little shocks and a few moderate earth earthquakes. In other locations where creep is not steady, strain can build up for hundreds of years before ultimately releasing, causing massive earthquakes.