Year 3

How does an earthquake occur?

In this lesson, we are going to be learning about why tectonic plates move, what an earthquake is and why they occur.

Year 3

How does an earthquake occur?

In this lesson, we are going to be learning about why tectonic plates move, what an earthquake is and why they occur.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Grasp how tectonic plates move
  2. Explain what an earthquake is
  3. Investigate how an earthquake occurs

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

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4 Questions

Q1.
An active volcano has had at least one eruption in the last 10,000 years.
False
Correct answer: True
Q2.
Volcanoes are formed… (choose two options)
Correct answer: when tectonic plates collide and one plate is pushed beneath another.
when tectonic plates move around each other..
Correct answer: when tectonic plates move away from one another.
when tectonic plates remain still.
Q3.
Which of these describes a Stratovolcano?
Correct answer: Lava does not flow as far. Many layers of hardened lava build up a steep volcano after repeated eruptions.
Lava flows easily so a broad volcanic mountain is built up over time by repeated eruptions.
Q4.
Which of these describes a shield volcano?
Lava does not flow as far. Many layers of hardened lava build up a steep volcano after repeated eruptions.
Correct answer: Lava flows easily so a broad volcanic mountain is built up over time by repeated eruptions.

3 Questions

Q1.
Convection currents happen when...
cool material rises while warm material sinks in a circular pattern.
Correct answer: warm material rises while cool material sinks in a circular pattern.
warm material rises while cool material sinks in a vertical pattern.
warm material sinks while cool material rises in a circular pattern.
Q2.
Tectonic plates move, because...
they are moved by the convection currents in the atmosphere.
they are moved by the convection currents in the inner core.
Correct answer: they are moved by the convection currents in the mantle.
they are moved by the convection currents in the outer core.
Q3.
The epicentre of an earthquake is...
the centre of an earthquake.
the crack in the Earth’s surface left behind after an earthquake
Correct answer: the place on the earth’s surface above where the rock broke.
the place where the rock broke.