If something like an earthquake is caused by a release of energy in earth, what is this energy and why is it being released to begin with?
In: Earth Science
An earthquake is caused when the tectonic plates slip as they are rubbing against each other. When that slip happens, it’ causes the earth to shake and rock and roll, causing potential for massive damage.
The energy which causes the tectonic plates to smack into each other is essentially they are floating upon the magma that is under them. The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior causes the plates to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other.
Think of it this way. You put a piece of sandpaper in both hands. Put your hands together, and they won’t move easily. Now, start adding energy to your hands through your muscles to try to get them to slip. Eventually they will slip.
That’s an earthquake 🙂
The energy you’re referring to is seismic energy, but it’s more commonly referred to as seismic waves. These waves can travel through the earth and are caused by huge releases of other energies like man made explosions or when gigantic underground rocks shift, collide or slip past each other. When this happens, the amount of energy released creates a series of waves that shake and displace whatever they travel through.
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