An earthquake is a natural disturbance, characterized by a convulsion or concussion of the ground. Earthquakes originate at a point within the crust, when a force pushing on a mass of rock causes it to slip suddenly. Energy is released and travels, through rock, to the surface in the form of waves causing vibrations and shaking. The word itself comes from the word earth, meaning ground or soil, and quake, meaning to shake or tremble. …showed first 75 words of 257 total…

…showed last 75 words of 257 total…atmospheric pressure and the level of rainfall, an earthquake's intensity is measured by testing the ground. The factors that are tested are, how fast the vibrations are moving from its source, how quickly the speed is changing, the frequency of the waves and the duration of the strong shaking. An earthquake's intensity is rated according to the Richter scale of earthquake measurements. This scale is set from one to nine, one being the lowest intensity.