Mr. Sanchez ELA Period 2 Choose your grade level January 30, 2018 How do earthquakes happen? Parts of an earthquake? Earthquakes occur when two pieces of Earth suddenly slide past each other. Surfaces that slide past each other are called a fault line or fault plane. An earthquake begins at the hypocenter, which is located beneath the Earth's surface. Right above the earth's surface is the epicenter. Sometimes large earthquakes have a warning shock. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Foreshocks are earthquakes smaller than the mainshock that occur after a larger earthquake in the same location. Larger earthquakes are called mainshocks. Aftershocks always occur after a mainshock. Foreshocks and aftershocks are the same thing. The aftershock can last weeks, months or maybe even years depending on the main shock. Fault Line-One fault line is the San Andreas Fault Line. The San Andreas Fault is a sliding boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The fault line bisects California from Cape Mendocino to the Mexican border. San Diego, Los Angeles and Big Sur are located on the Pacific Plate. San Francisco, Sacramento, and the Sierra Nevada are all on the North American Plate. Aside from the legendary 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the San Andreas Fault does not run through the city. Desert Hot Springs, San Bernardino, Wrightwood, Palmdale, Gorman, Frazier Park, Daly City, Point Reyes Station and Bodega Bay are all on the fault line. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The San Andreas Fault is a transform fault. A transform fault is a strike-slip fault that forms the boundary between two plates of the Earth's crust. Causes of an Earthquake Earthquakes are caused by a fault, which is a sudden movement of rocks that occurs along a rupture or rupture surface.