Interactive multiple-choice quiz: Earthquake Risks

Earthquakes are geological events caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, typically along plate boundaries and faults. Scientists use various scales to measure these events, such as the Richter scale for shaking amplitude and the Moment Magnitude scale for total energy released. The impacts of an earthquake are measured by intensity scales like the Modified Mercalli scale. Beyond simple shaking, earthquakes can trigger dangerous hazards including liquefaction, structural pancaking, and tsunamis caused by vertical seafloor displacement. Understanding the depth and causes of seismic activity is essential for disaster preparedness and risk mitigation.