edHelper.com
Earthquakes
Measuring Earthquakes



Measuring Earthquakes
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   high interest, readability grades 6 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   6.04

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    dynamite, bolted, seismogram, seismograph, formula, tectonic, moderate, seismic, earthquake, stress, based, magnitude, resist, pressure, movement, strength
     content words:    Charles Richter


Print Measuring Earthquakes
     Print Measuring Earthquakes  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)


Quickly Print
     Quickly print reading comprehension


Proofreading Activity
     Print a proofreading activity


Feedback on Measuring Earthquakes
     Leave your feedback on Measuring Earthquakes  (use this link if you found an error in the story)



Measuring Earthquakes
By Patti Hutchison
  

1     An earthquake is the sudden movement of one tectonic plate past another, along a fault. Because of friction, faults resist the forces trying to move the plates apart.
 
2     The pressure builds up, and rocks become deformed from the stress. Eventually the stress causes the fault to break. The ground shakes violently. The pressure is released as energy that moves in waves. These waves help us to measure an earthquake.
 
3     There are several ways to measure the size of an earthquake. The most scientific measurement is the Richter scale. This scale was developed by Charles Richter in the 1930's. Although it is used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes, it is not an instrument. It is a mathematical formula.

Paragraphs 4 to 10:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable


Copyright © 2009 edHelper