What is the cause of most earthquakes?

Question

The Earth's crust breaks away and moves suddenly into the mantle.

Volcanic eruptions like Mt. Saint Helens are the main cause of earthquakes.

Rocks layers break apart along fault lines releasing large amounts of energy.

Convection currents inside the Earth's mantle cause movement in the crust.

Answer 1

The most accurate answer is:

Rocks layers break apart along fault lines releasing large amounts of energy.

Earthquakes are primarily caused by the movement of tectonic plates and the release of stress that has built up along faults in the Earth's crust. When rocks break or slip along these faults, they release energy in the form of seismic waves, which we feel as an earthquake. While convection currents in the mantle can contribute to the movement of tectonic plates, the immediate cause of most earthquakes is the sudden release of energy along fault lines.