Final answer:
Normal and reverse faults are mainly characterized by dip slip motion, where the hanging wall moves down in a normal fault and up in a reverse fault, with a special type called a thrust fault having a gentle dip.
Step-by-step explanation:
Normal and reverse faults are characterized mainly by dip slip motion. In a normal fault, the hanging wall moves downward, indicating the blocks are being pulled apart in extension. In contrast, a reverse fault displays movement of the hanging wall upwards as a result of compressional forces. Additionally, a special type of reverse fault known as a thrust fault has a gentle dip of less than 30° and results in one block being thrust over another, often creating features such as klippes and windows.
A fault's dip represents the angle of inclination and is often related to the steepest slope that material, such as water, would take if poured on the surface. The strike is a horizontal line at 90° to the dip and represents the orientation of a geological layer or feature on the Earth's surface. Understanding the nature of faults and their movements is crucial for interpreting geological features and their formations.