Earthquakes are defined as the vibration of earth produced by the rapid release of energy. The plate tectonic activity that causes volcanoes also causes earthquakes. Subduction can create stress in the rock crust that results in slippage causing earthquakes. As two plates collide, stress is built up and faults or cracks appear in the crust. If there is little friction along the fault creep may occur. There may be gradual movement of the ground on one or both sides of the fault. This type of fault activity does not usually result in death or injury, since there are no sudden movements. But if friction prevents gradual movement, the stress will built up until sudden slippage occurs along the fault. This is an earthquake. Sometimes slippage occurs along the subduction zone. These quakes can be rather large ones, like the Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004 if the stress occurs in deep crust layers where rock is hot, the crust may gradually fold rather than slip. The point along a fault where movement first occurs is called the earthquake's focus. The point on the earth's surfac......

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