how much energy is released during an earthquake, often measured in Mw (moment magnitude)

where the earthquake is first felt, the point on the surface directly above the focus

the point underground where the tectonic plates first break or slip

The effects of earthquakes

Geography

Inside Earth

The movement of tectonic plates

Plate boundaries

Types of volcanoes

Volcanic hazards

Living close to volcanoes

The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo

Earthquakes

Living in earthquake regions

The 2025 Myanmar Earthquake

The 2018 Sunda Strait Tsunami

This unit teaches pupils about the physical processes that lead to tectonic hazards and investigates the geographical pattern of hazards across the world. Pupils will also learn how tectonic hazards affect people in different places and how people seek to manage hazards.

Tectonic hazards: Why is Earth restless?

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of famine, disease, natural disasters.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

What does 'magnitude' mean in an earthquake?

The point on the surface directly above the focus

Everything goes back to normal straight away

Aftershocks can occur hours or days later

The earthquake repeats in the same spot every day

Which of the following is likely to happen after a major earthquake?

Cities have more earthquakes than rural areas

Why can the same magnitude earthquake have different effects in different places?

Huge pieces of Earth’s crust that move slowly

What is the point inside Earth where an earthquake starts called?

What instrument measures the strength of earthquakes?

A crack in Earth's crust where movement can occur

The effects of earthquakes

Lesson outcome

Content guidance