What does the term “fault” mean, in terms like the San Andreas Fault?

7 comments

1. 

   LexiNexi on December 7, 2009 at 4:45 am

   It has to do with the earths tectonic plates. There are 8 major plates under the earths continents. The tectonic plates shift and slide on occasion and create mountains, earthquakes etc…

   That’s my off the cuff response. For more info go to wikipedia.com

2. 

   yellowjeff on December 7, 2009 at 4:45 am

   A big crack or set of cracks in the earth where 2 plates meet and shift against each other.

3. 

   paul johns on December 7, 2009 at 4:45 am

   that is where two tectonic plates come together

4. 

   David C on December 7, 2009 at 4:45 am

   Main Entry: 1fault
   Pronunciation: \ˈfȯlt, in poetry also ˈfȯt\
   Function: noun
   Etymology: Middle English faute, falte, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *fallita, from feminine of fallitus, past participle of Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint
   Date: 13th century
   1obsolete : lack
   2 a: weakness, failing; especially : a moral weakness less serious than a vice b: a physical or intellectual imperfection or impairment : defect c: an error especially in service in a net or racket game
   3 a: misdemeanor b: mistake
   4: responsibility for wrongdoing or failure <the accident was the driver’s fault>
   5: a fracture in the crust of a planet (as the earth) or moon accompanied by a displacement of one side of the fracture with respect to the other usually in a direction parallel to the fracture

5. 

   [marshmallow] on December 7, 2009 at 4:45 am

   A geologic fault: planar rock fractures which show evidence of relative movement. =)

6. 

   V on December 7, 2009 at 4:45 am

   fault in the term which you are using it means a slip margin. this means that there are 2 tectonic plates which are moving either in opposite directions (up & down) or the same direction at different speeds. the fault is the crack that runs throughout CA and surrounding area.

7. 

   gimpalomg on December 7, 2009 at 4:45 am

   It is basically a crack in the Earth’s surface. These cracks become stressed by tectonic forces. When they slip we feel it as an earthquake.

   I kept it very short, there are literally scores of books written on the subject. If you want more information a search of "earthquake faults" should give you more information than you could imagine.