Final answer:
Earthquakes are caused by the release of built-up stress along Earth's fault lines due to the movement of tectonic plates. These seismic events can result in significant damage and may trigger other disasters like tsunamis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Earthquakes can happen when there is a large amount of stress built up along fault lines due to the motion of the Earth's tectonic plates. The continuous action of the plates causes these stresses to accumulate in the Earth's crust. When these stresses become too great, they are released in sudden, violent slippages along the faults, known as an earthquake. These earthquakes can result in ground shaking strong enough to cause significant destruction, similar to the work of thousands of wrecking balls. The energy released by earthquakes is related to its amplitude, with large-amplitude earthquakes causing greater ground displacements and more damage.
Along subduction zones and other plate boundaries, the motion of the plates is not smooth and results in regular seismic activity. The longer the time interval between earthquakes, the more stress builds up, leading to potentially more powerful earthquakes once the fault does slip. Earthquakes not only cause direct shaking of the ground but can also lead to other hazardous events such as tsunamis, especially near coastal regions.