Faults

Definition

Faults are fractures in Earth's crust where significant displacement has occurred. They result from tectonic forces causing blocks of crust to move relative to each other.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Faults are classified into three main types: normal, reverse, and strike-slip.
2. Normal faults occur due to extensional forces that pull the crust apart.
3. Reverse faults are caused by compressional forces that push the crust together.
4. Strike-slip faults result from horizontal shearing forces where blocks of crust move past one another.
5. Earthquakes commonly occur along faults due to the release of accumulated stress.

Review Questions

Related terms

Tectonic Plates: Large sections of Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing geological activity.

Seismic Waves:

Waves of energy that travel through Earth's layers as a result of earthquakes or other geological processes.

Epicenter: The point on Earth's surface directly above the focus where an earthquake originates.