Why do earthquakes happen?

How earthquakes happen

Earthquakes happen because the Earth’s surface is made of large pieces called tectonic plates. These plates are always slowly moving, but sometimes they get stuck against each other.

As the plates try to move, pressure builds up between them. The rocks bend and store energy.

When the pressure becomes too strong, the rocks suddenly break or slip.

This sudden movement releases a large amount of energy. The energy travels through the ground as seismic waves, causing the Earth to shake.

This shaking is called an earthquake. The stronger the pressure, the stronger the earthquake.

Most earthquakes happen along plate boundaries, where the plates meet.