Faults

Definition

Faults are fractures in Earth's crust where significant displacement has occurred. They result from tectonic forces causing blocks of crust to move relative to each other.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Faults are classified into three main types: normal, reverse, and strike-slip.
2. Normal faults occur due to extensional forces that pull the crust apart.
3. Reverse faults are caused by compressional forces that push the crust together.
4. Strike-slip faults result from horizontal shearing forces where blocks of crust move past one another.
5. Earthquakes commonly occur along faults due to the release of accumulated stress.

Review Questions

• What are the three main types of faults and what type of force causes each?
• How do normal faults differ from reverse faults in terms of movement and stress?
• Why are earthquakes often associated with fault lines?

Related terms

Tectonic Plates: Large sections of Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing geological activity.

Seismic Waves: Waves of energy that travel through Earth's layers as a result of earthquakes or other geological processes.

Epicenter: The point on Earth's surface directly above the focus where an earthquake originates.