Epicenter

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/epicenter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the relation to plate tectonics?The global distribution of epicenters closely correlates with tectonic plate boundaries
2. How do scientists find the epicenter of an earthquake?Seismologists use seismograph stations that record the first waves (P-waves) and later waves (S-waves). By comparing the time difference at three or more stations, they can draw circles that meet at the epicenter.
3. Why is the epicenter important for people living near it?Knowing the epicenter helps planners build stronger buildings and prepare emergency plans for the places that might feel the strongest shaking.

Hypocenter (Focus): The actual point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture begins.
Seismograph: An instrument that measures and records ground motion caused by seismic waves.
Seismic Waves: Energy waves that propagate outward from the hypocenter through the Earth's interior and along its surface.
Triangulation: A method used in seismology to determine the epicenter by using data from at least three seismic stations.