Why do earthquakes happen?
Earthquakes occur due to the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust. The Earth's crust is made up of several tectonic plates that are constantly moving. When these plates collide, slide past each other, or pull apart, they can get stuck at their edges due to friction.
As the plates continue to move, stress gradually builds up along the edges where they are stuck. When the stress becomes too much, the rocks break due to the enormous pressure, and this sudden breaking of rocks results in an earthquake. The released energy generates seismic waves that create the shaking and trembling commonly associated with earthquakes.
The majority of earthquakes occur along plate boundaries, known as fault lines, where the tectonic plates interact. These boundaries are classified into three main types: convergent boundaries (where plates collide), divergent boundaries (where plates separate), and transform boundaries (where plates slide past each other). Major earthquakes also occur along subduction zones, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another.
However, earthquakes can also occur away from plate boundaries, known as intraplate earthquakes, although they are relatively less frequent. These earthquakes are usually caused by the release of stress built up within a plate, faults or fractures within the Earth's crust, or volcanic activity.
In summary, earthquakes happen due to the movement of tectonic plates and the resulting release of accumulated stress and energy within the Earth's crust.