Science 8

Second Quarter
“Anatomy of an Earthquake and
Active Faults in the Philippines”
Anatomy of an Earthquake

An earthquake happens when two

blocks of the earth suddenly slip
past one another. The focus is also
called hypocenter, the focus is
Earth’s crust where rocks begin to
slip and fracture along a fault. It
releases energy, causing an
Earthquake. The depth of the
earthquake tells you how far down
inside Earth the earthquake
originated. Some earthquakes
originate very far inside Earth and
are called deep-focus earthquakes,
while others are shallower and are
called shallow-focus earthquakes.
And lastly, Medium- focus
earthquakes are neither on Earth’s
surface nor deep in Earth. Focus is
located within the fault or fault
plane. The fault or fault plane is a
fracture in the surface of the crust
where the two blocks of rocks slip
while the fault line are breaks in the
Earth’s crust. The location on the
Earth’s surface directly above the
focus is called the epicenter.
Seismic waves are waves that
transmit energy released by an
earthquake. It is like throwing a
stone into the water, ripples form
into the surface of the water. The
ripple moves away from the center
in circles that grow in size until they
disappear. When seismic energy is
released during an earthquake, the
focus is like the stone’s entry point
in the water, and when an
earthquake happen you will usually
hear the word magnitude
and intensity. Magnitude and
Intensity measure different
characteristics of earthquake.
Magnitude measures the total
amount of energy released at the
source of the earthquake.
Seismograph is used to measure the
magnitude of an earthquake. A
seismograph or seismometer, is an
instrument used to detect and
record earthquakes. We can
determine the intensity of an
earthquake from its effect on people,
human structures and natural
environment. Intensity can be
measured with the Modified Mercalli

Scale.
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the
letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What is the point of origin of an earthquake?
a. Fault
b. Focus
c. Epicenter
d. Seismic waves

2. An instrument used to measure and record ground

movements duringan earthquake is called a(n)
a. Creep meter
b. Richter scale
c. Seismograph
d. Thermometer

3. Which of the following Philippine fault can affect several

places in MetroManila when it moves?
a. Marikina Valley Fault
b. Central Philippine Fault
c. Eastern Philippine Fault
d. Western Philippine Fault

4. It measures the total amount of energy released at the

source of the earthquake.
a. Epicenter
b. Intensity
c. Magnitude
d. Seismic Waves

5. A break in the Earth’s crust where slabs rub against each

other duringmovement is a(n)
a. fold
b. fault
c. fracture
d. epicenter
Active Fault in the Philippines
Strong earthquakes generally occur
along the fault lines. There are five
fault lines in the country namely the
Western Philippine Fault, The Eastern
Philippine Fault, the South of Mindanao
Fault, Central Philippine Fault and the
Marikina Valley Fault.
Marikina Valley Fault poses the greatest
danger because it cuts through the
progressive and crowded portions of
Manila such as Marikina, Quezon City,
Pasig, Makati, Taguig and Muntinlupa
and has been anticipated by the
geologists of the Philippine institute of
Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS) to move at any
moment .

The Western Philippine fault line is run

through the waters of the
Western part of the Philippines.
The Philippine Sea is located where the
Eastern Philippine Fault can be
found.
This Mindanao faults runs through the
Celebes Sea as well as the Moro
Gulf. The whole Southern Mindanao is
at risk when the Mindanao fault
line moves.
And lastly, the Central Philippine Fault
runs through several provinces in cities
from the northern part of the
archipelago, down to the northern part
of Davao. The places where the Central
Philippine Fault are Ilocos
Norte, Aurora, Quezon, Masbate,
Eastern Leyte, Southern Leyte, Agusan
del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Davao
del Norte.
The Central Philippine Fault is the root
of the earthquake that destroyed
both Baguio and the Central Luzon part
back in 1990.
Activity 1.1
Title of Activity:
Where Earthquake happen?
Objectives:
• Evaluate trends in Earthquake locations
• Analyze the cause of Earthquake in certain locations
Materials:
Map and Pen
Procedure:
Look the map below and analyze the yellow dots that show where earthquakes have
happened over the last 40 years.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. What do you notice about where earthquakes happen?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Why do you think most earthquakes occur in these areas or locations?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Describe any patterns or trends you observe in the location of earthquakes?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Activity 1.2
Title of Activity: Measure My
Magnitude

Objectives:

• To demonstrate the measurement of Earthquakes.

• To know the use of seismogram in measuring the magnitude of an Earthquake.
Materials:
Table, Plain white paper, Marker and Tape
Procedure:
1. Before we begin, find a partner (it can be your father, mother, brother,sister, etc.)
2. Place one sheet of paper on the desk. Let your partner to hold onto the marker so
that it just touches the surface of the white paper.
3. While your partner is tightly holding onto the marker, you will “be” theearthquake.
Lightly shake the table and slowly pull it toward you. Make sure to stop before you
run off the paper. This will leave seismograms on white paper, representing the
earthquake.
4. Now switch roles with your partner so that your partner can be theearthquake as
well. But this time your partner should shake it a little harder than what you did.
5. Compare your seismogram to the seismogram of your partner.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Look your seismograms. Which shaking produced bigger seismograms?
________________________________________________________________________
2.What can the size of the seismogram tell us about an earthquake?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. How does the seismogram connected to the magnitude of an earthquake?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Remember
• The focus is also called hypocenter, the focus is
Earth’s crust where rocks begin to slip and
fracture along a fault.
 The fault or fault plane is a fracture in
the surface of the crust where
the two blocks of rocks slip while the fault line are
breaks in the Earth’s crust.
• The location on the Earth’s surface directly

above the focus is called the epicenter.

• Seismic waves are waves that transmit energy

released by an earthquake
 Magnitude measures the total amount
of energy released at the source
of the earthquake.
• Seismograph is used to measure the magnitude

of an earthquake.
 seismograph or seismometer, is an
instrument used to detect and record
earthquakes.
• Intensity tells us the strength of shaking

produced by the earthquake at a certain area.


There are five fault lines in the country
namely the Western Philippine Fault,
The Eastern Philippine Fault, the South
of
Mindanao Fault, Central Philippine Fault
and the Marikina Valley
Fault. EVALUATION
1. What is the epicenter of an earthquake?
a. the last place that motion in an earthquake is detected
 b. a seismic wave that travels along the surface of the earth.
c. the point on Earth’s surface directly above the earthquake’s focus
d. the location along a fault where the first motion of an earthquakeoccurs

2. Which of the following measures an earthquake’s intensity based on the observed

effects on people and structures?
a. Richter scale
b. the Centigrade scale
c. Modified Mercalli Scale
d. the Moment Magnitude Scale

3. People are interviewed and buildings are inspected to determine ____________ of an

earthquake.
a. Intensity
b. Magnitude
c. location of the focus
d. location of an active fault

4. Which of the following Philippine fault is the root of the earthquake that destroyed
both Baguio and the Central Luzon part back in 1990?
a. Marikina Valley Fault
b. Western Philippine Fault
c. Eastern Philippine Fault
d. Central Philippine Fault

5. Joseph was sitting peacefully when suddenly felt an earthquake which vibration is
like one passing of a truck; what intensity did Joseph felt?
a. I b. VII c. III d. V
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Explain the anatomy of an Earthquake.
2. What is the difference between the magnitude and intensity of an
earthquake?
3. Why many earthquakes occur in the Ring of Fire?
Care and concern for others
4. How can we protect ourselves from the intensity of an Earthquake?
5. Why is there a need to identify active or inactive faults in our community?