What Causes Earthquakes

Lab Brief #2

🎯 Your mission

Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.

⚡ The twist

Weather isn't random — it's just complicated.

What you'll learn

Earthquakes happen when stress builds up along faults in Earth's crust and suddenly releases. Seismic waves radiate from the focus, shaking the ground.

Key words

tectonic plates
The giant slabs of rock that make up Earth's surface.
earthquake
A shaking of the ground when rocks move underground.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you observe: what shape will it leave?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Build a working model of a volcano using baking soda and vinegar. Observe the eruption and explain what causes real volcanic eruptions.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.

Question 1 of 3

What causes earthquakes?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

What causes weathering?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What causes ocean tides?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🌊 The deepest part of the ocean is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: How Volcanoes Form All lessons

🎯

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: Today's weather, tomorrow's beach, next century's coastline — all this.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Look at the sky for 5 minutes and try to predict tomorrow's weather.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's the slowest change you can think of?”

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What Causes Earthquakes

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