Where do earthquakes happen most commonly? Why do they happen there?

Question

Please describe in a way a grade 7 would understand, thanks =]

Answer 1

Earth quakes are caused by plate tectonics.  They are the plates that float on the earths mantel and are what distinguish which continent your on.  The plates move both horizontally and vertically and are distinguished by what are known as P & S waves.  The horizontal waves happen much more frequently but the vertical waves cause more damage.  Which is why "After Shocks" can cause more damage as the waves resinate away from their source.

Answer 2

near fault lines like by the san andreas fault theres tons of earthquakes

Answer 3

earthquakes can happen anywhere. it happens because the earths plate. thats all i know... but i got a website where it tells you recent earthquakes go to goole and type in recent earthquakes then press the first one. the website should say:

http://.quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/

Answer 4

Near fault lines....Room for the earth to shift

Answer 5

In California and around the Pacific Rim (around Japan and Indonesia, it kinda makes a ring around the Pacific Ocean). Also in India.

It's because the tectonic plates under the ground (like huge slabs of rock that are cracked up under the Earth's surface) run into each other or slide past each other due to building pressure from the Earth's core.

Answer 6

I'm actually in 7th grade also. The Ring Of Fire I think has the most active volcanic eruptions and seismic (earthquake) activity. Around the Ring of Fire, the Pacific Plate is colliding with and sliding underneath other plates. This process is known as subduction and the volcanically and seismically active area nearby is known as a subduction zone. Just go to Yahoo.com and search the Ring Of Fire. You should get some information about it.

Answer 7

Tetonic plates you can see it online and those countries are right on top. The only country with no earthquakes is australia.