Why are there earthquakes?
Earthquakes happen when giant pieces of the ground slide and bump each other.
Pip’s answer
- Earthquakes happen when giant pieces of the ground slide and bump each other.
- Earth's outside is like a cracked eggshell, made of huge moving pieces.
- The pieces move very slowly, about as fast as your fingernails grow!
- Ooh, when they finally slip, the whole ground wiggles like jelly!
For grown-ups
Earth's outer layer is broken into huge pieces called tectonic plates that slowly move, a few centimeters a year. Where plates meet, they can get stuck. Stress builds until the rock suddenly slips, releasing energy as seismic waves that shake the ground. Scientists measure earthquakes with seismometers.
Ask your child: Do you know what to do to stay safe if the ground shakes?
More questions kids ask
- 🌋Why do volcanoes erupt?
- ⛰️Why are there mountains?
- 🌍Why is the Earth round?
- 🌤️Why is the sky blue?
- 🌅Why are sunsets orange?
- 🌈Why are there rainbows?
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