An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground caused by the release of energy in the Earth's crust. This release happens due to tectonic plate movements along faults resulting in seismic waves that travel through the Earth.
Related terms
Seismic activity: The frequency and intensity of earthquakes in a specific region.
Richter scale: A numerical measurement used to determine the magnitude of an earthquake.
Epicenter: The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus, where an earthquake originates.