Strike-slip Fault Investigation

Earthquakes are caused by the motion along plate boundaries

(bend and stretch)

Deformed and stretched rock due to stress and strain due to increase temperatures and pressure deep in Earth’s crust

To start the data collection: Leading edge of the block starts a 0 cm Measure the start of the rubber band ______ cm Demo

Distance of rubber band (plate motion) Block movement: Trial 1 leading edge (Fault slippage) Difference in distance from previous measurement Block movement: leading edge Trial 2 (Fault slippage) Difference in distance from previous measurement 1 cm 2 cm 3 cm 4.cm 5.cm 6 cm 7 cm 8 cm 9 cm 10 cm 11 cm 12 cm 13 cm 14 cm 15 cm 16 cm 17 cm 18 cm 19 cm 20 cm 21 cm 22 cm 23 cm 24 cm 25 cm 26 cm 27 cm 28 cm 29 cm 31 cm 32 cm 33 cm 34 cm 35 cm 36 cm 37 cm

Sample data Location of leading edge of rubber bands (cm) (Plate motion) Location of leading edge of block (cm) (Fault Slip)

Rubber band Block movement

3 bands 2 bands

Potential Energy (PE) What is potential? Examples of the term “Potential” – You have the potential to do well on the Test – The Cubs had the potential to make it to the World Series – Definition: anything that may be possible to DO something Potential energy is STORED ENERGY that is waiting to be used or released It has the potential to cause a change It has potential due to its position or shape

Kinetic Energy The Energy of It can be slow, steady It can be sudden an fast KE depends on how much potential energy was stored-up and released Moving plates have Kinetic energy Motion

PE el KE PE = _____ KE = _____ Total E = _____ Band Block Energy Transfer System: object interacting

PE elastic KE Define :PE = _________________________________ KE = _________________________________ How does the TOTAL energy before compare to the total energy after the EQ?________ __________ _________ Using the LOL diagram, graph the transfer of Energy that occurs at a fault before and during an earthquake System: object interacting

Mantle Convection tectonics-earthquakes--volcanoes.html At which boundary is this occurring? Push Convection

The story… Two tectonic plates do not flow past each other smoothly, but rather the faults that form their boundaries tend to stick or lock up for years at a time due to friction. Each year the portions of plates near locked faults move slowly a few millimeters and deform elastically. The more the plates are stretch and deformed, the greater the force is on the fault (shear stress). Eventually the force is sufficient to overcome the friction and make the plates break free of one another The elastic energy that has been stored up is released and ground vibrations. (seismic waves). This process of faulting is called stick-slip or elastic rebound.