Which statement correctly describes why earthquakes happen?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Earth’s crust suddenly slips along a fault.

Earth’s crust undergoes a cycle from a solid material to magma.

Earth’s crust near magma melts, and the ground collapses.

Earth’s crust switches places in a periodic manner.

Answer 1

The statement that correctly describes why earthquakes happen is:

Earth’s crust suddenly slips along a fault.

This describes the process where stress accumulates in the Earth's crust until it exceeds the frictional forces holding rocks together, resulting in a sudden release of energy that causes an earthquake.