What is the cause of an Earthquake?

Question

Are the North State's recent earthquakes cause for concern? | NSPR

a
Volcanic eruptions shake the ground around them while the erupt, causing the effect of earthquakes in the regions around them
b
Two or more plate boundaries move against each other, producing vibrations and energy waves that travel to the surface
c
Large impacts of asteroids and meteors into the sea crash into the crust, sending shockwaves that are felt as earthquakes across the globe
d
The explosions of flammable gases trapped in pockets under the ground causes the vibrations that create earthquakes

Answer 1

The correct answer is b: Two or more plate boundaries move against each other, producing vibrations and energy waves that travel to the surface.

Earthquakes are primarily caused by the movement of tectonic plates along fault lines, where stress builds up until it's released as seismic energy, causing the ground to shake. The other options describe events that can produce ground shaking or disturbances but are not the main causes of earthquakes.