How are earthquakes caused?

Volcanoes And Earthquakes Questions



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How are earthquakes caused?

Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, usually due to the movement of tectonic plates. This movement can occur along faults, which are fractures in the Earth's crust where rocks on either side have moved relative to each other. When the stress along a fault exceeds the strength of the rocks, it leads to an earthquake. The released energy travels in the form of seismic waves, causing the ground to shake.