Question
When the people living in and near the town of New Madrid in what is now southeastern Missouri went to bed on the night of December 15, 1811, they had no way of knowing that during the pre-dawn hours of the following morning they would be jarred from their peaceful slumber by shock waves that rippled through the earth with such force that buildings collapsed, trees toppled, and the Mississippi River changed course. The explosive force that shattered the stillness of that serene setting was one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in North America. During the next two months, the area would be rocked by three more quakes as powerful as the first (one just six hours after the first) and hundreds of smaller ones. The larger quakes shook the earth with enough force to cause church bells to ring in Washington, D.C. They were felt in Indiana and were even felt a thousand miles away in New Hampshire.
Missouri, Indiana and other states in the central United States have experienced significant earthquakes, yet none of these states are located near the edge of the North American tectonic plate. What causes earthquakes in areas between tectonic plates?
Responses
A Earthquakes occur because there are no volcanoes to relieve the pressure from heat in Earth's core.Earthquakes occur because there are no volcanoes to relieve the pressure from heat in Earth's core.
B There are faults deep under the surface of the earth in these areas caused by motion of the tectonic plates.There are faults deep under the surface of the earth in these areas caused by motion of the tectonic plates.
C These earthquakes are all the result of human activities such as oil and gas production, not natural seismic activity.These earthquakes are all the result of human activities such as oil and gas production, not natural seismic activity.
D The crust is thinner in the center of a tectonic plate because magma in the lithosphere flows to the edges of tectonic plates.The crust is thinner in the center of a tectonic plate because magma in the lithosphere flows to the edges of tectonic plates.
Missouri, Indiana and other states in the central United States have experienced significant earthquakes, yet none of these states are located near the edge of the North American tectonic plate. What causes earthquakes in areas between tectonic plates?
Responses
A Earthquakes occur because there are no volcanoes to relieve the pressure from heat in Earth's core.Earthquakes occur because there are no volcanoes to relieve the pressure from heat in Earth's core.
B There are faults deep under the surface of the earth in these areas caused by motion of the tectonic plates.There are faults deep under the surface of the earth in these areas caused by motion of the tectonic plates.
C These earthquakes are all the result of human activities such as oil and gas production, not natural seismic activity.These earthquakes are all the result of human activities such as oil and gas production, not natural seismic activity.
D The crust is thinner in the center of a tectonic plate because magma in the lithosphere flows to the edges of tectonic plates.The crust is thinner in the center of a tectonic plate because magma in the lithosphere flows to the edges of tectonic plates.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct response is:
B There are faults deep under the surface of the earth in these areas caused by motion of the tectonic plates.
This option accurately explains that even in areas between tectonic plates, there can be faults stemming from the historical motion of tectonic plates, which can lead to earthquakes. These faults can accumulate stress over time, eventually releasing that energy as seismic waves.
B There are faults deep under the surface of the earth in these areas caused by motion of the tectonic plates.
This option accurately explains that even in areas between tectonic plates, there can be faults stemming from the historical motion of tectonic plates, which can lead to earthquakes. These faults can accumulate stress over time, eventually releasing that energy as seismic waves.