Plate movement: When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth's crust with causes rock breakage
Seismic waves: part of the energy released is as elastic waves that are transmitted through the earth. The waves are then detected and recorded by seismograms, which measure, amplify and record the motion of the ground.
Surface waves: Surface waves travel more slowly through Earth material at the planet's surface and are predominantly lower frequency than body waves. They are easily distinguished on a seismogram. Shallow earthquakes produce stronger surface waves; the strength of the surface waves are reduced in deeper earthquakes.
Earthquake damage: Ground shaking from earthquakes can cause buildings and bridges to collapse; disrupt gas, electricity, and telephone services; and sometimes trigger landslides, avalanches, flash floods, fires, and tsunami.
Aftershocks: smaller earthquakes that occur in the same general area during the days to years following a larger event or "mainshock." They occur within 1-2 fault lengths away and during the period of time before the background seismicity level has resumed.