Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Terminology – 01”.
1. The study of earthquakes is called __________
a) Eathquakology
b) Tremology
c) Seismology
d) Quakegraphy
Answer: c
Clarification: The science dealing with the study of earthquake in all their aspects is called seismology. It is interdisciplinary science, which is partly geology and partly physics.
2. The point of origin of an earthquake below the earth’s surface is called __________
a) Isocentre
b) Isopoint
c) Focus
d) Epicentre
Answer: c
Clarification: The place or point of origin of an earthquake below the surface of the earth is termed as its focus or hypocenter. It may lie from a few hundred meters to hundreds of kilometres below the surface.
3. The point vertically above the focus is __________
a) Epicenter
b) Isocenter
c) Epivector
d) Isovector
Answer: a
Clarification: The point or place on the surface vertically above the focus of a particular earthquake is termed as its epicentre.
4. What is the location of maximum damage caused due to an earthquake?
a) Focus
b) Epicenter
c) 100 km from epicenter
d) Same everywhere
Answer: b
Clarification: The epicenter is that place on the surface of the earth where the vibrations from a particular earthquake reach first of all. It is often the location of maximum damage in that event.
5. What is the maximum depth of focus observed till date?
a) 100 km
b) 500 km
c) 700 km
d) 1000 km
Answer: c
Clarification: As regards the distance from epicenter to focus, or depth of focus, it has been observed from the study of seismic records that no earthquake with a focus deeper than 700 km has been recorded so far.
6. The seismic waves which are longitudinal __________
a) Primary waves
b) Secondary waves
c) Rayleigh waves
d) Love waves
Answer: a
Clarification: The P-waves are also called the primary waves, push and pull waves, longitudinal waves and compressional waves. These are the fastest of the seismic waves and are longitudinal in character.
7. The seismic waves which are also called transverse waves are __________
a) S-waves
b) P-waves
c) Rayleigh waves
d) Love waves
Answer: a
Clarification: The S-waves are also called secondary waves, the shear waves, the transverse waves or the distortional waves. These waves are transverse in character, like the light waves.
8. Which waves have helped geologists understand the nature of the earth’s core?
a) P-waves
b) S-waves
c) Rayleigh waves
d) Love waves
Answer: b
Clarification: The S-waves would not propagate through a liquid medium at all. This is a proven fact with S-waves and has helped geologists a lot in understanding the nature of the core of the earth.
9. What are the P and S waves collectively called?
a) Group waves
b) Combined waves
c) Body waves
d) Duel waves
Answer: c
Clarification: The P and S-waves are sometimes collectively referred to as body waves because they travel deep into the body of the Earth before re-emerging on the surface.