1. Explain the magnitude and intensity of earthquakes.

The magnitude measures the energy release by an earthquake.

The intensity is a number that describes the severity of an earthquake. It is made
through predefined indices that are established under the macroseismic intensity
concept.

2. What is measured by the magnitude of an earthquake?

The energy release by the earthquake. It is based on measurement of the

maximum motion recorded by a seismograph.

3. Explain the formation of earthquakes.

The continuous activity of the tectonic plates explain the occurrence of

earthquakes along the mayor plate boundaries. Moreover, the actual mechanism
of earthquake can be explained by the elastic rebound theory. It relates
earthquake process with geological faults.

As plates on opposite sides of a fault are subjected to stress, they accumulate

energy and deform gradually until their internal strength capacity is exceeded. At
that time, a sudden movement occurs along the fault, releasing the accumulative
energy, and the rocks snap back to the original undeformed shape.

4. What are the basic differences between a seismograph and a strong motion
accelerograph?

The accelerograph record the time-depend variation of particle acceleration under

ground motion, used to monitor structures from earthquake response. The
seismograph measures characteristics of the earthquake waves like the amplitude
(displacement), intensity, and duration.

5. What causes tectonic plate motion (continental drift) in the earth crust?

It can be explained from the sea-floor theory, it suggest that ocean floor is formed
continuously by the magma that rises up from within the mantle into the central
gorges of the ocean ridges. The magma spreading out from the gorges pushes the
two sides of the ridge apart This mechanism separates the two tectonic plates
from each other.

6. (a) Explain elastic rebound theory. (b) What causes ground shaking during an
earthquake?
 a) As plates on opposite sides of a fault are subjected to stress, they accumulate
energy and deform gradually until their internal strength capacity is exceeded.
At that time, a sudden movement occurs along the fault, releasing the
accumulative energy, and the rocks snap back to the original undeformed
shape.
b) They are mainly caused by rupture on geological faults.

uExplain the basic types of seismic waves? Can we separate them in a seismogram or
in a strong motion accelerogram signal?

The seismic waves are strain energy sudden releases that radiates from the
rupture fault of the earthquake.
It is possible because P and S wave arrivals can be differentiated both by time and
amplitude. From the same source, P-wave arrives first with a smaller magnitude
and S-wave later with a bigger magnitude

7. Which waves travel faster? What are their propagation velocities?

9. Which type of seismic waves is more destructive? Why?
10. Explain magnitude saturation. Why and when does it occur?
11. What is measured by the intensity of an earthquake?
12. What are the basic characteristics of accelerograms, as related to the fault
rupture and the travel path of seismic waves?
13. (a) What is observational (subjective) intensity? How is it measured and
expressed?
(b) What is instrumental (objective) intensity? How is it measured?
14. What are the basic shapes of isoseismal lines in different types of fault
ruptures?
15. What is the use of isoseismal (intensity) maps in earthquake engineering?
16. Explain the basic factors affecting the intensity of strong ground shaking.
17. What are the basic variables accounted for in assigning an intensity level in
the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS)?
18. Describe the effects of earthquakes on structures. How do we consider these
effects in building design?
19. Can we build on a land where significant residual geotechnical deformations
are expected during an earthquake? Explain the basic engineering measures or
decisions against geotechnical deformations.

CAPITULO 02

1:

El suelo blando vibra de manera más intensa que la roca dura