Tectonic Earthquakes Most earthquakes occur at plate margins due to tension, compression or shearing forces. Rocks at plate margins are in constant motion and are being pushed, pulled, bent, twisted and folded
The change in volume or shape of an object that results from stress is called strain. The response of rocks to stress can be divided into - elastic response: rock returns to original shape - ductile or plastic response: permanent deformation without fracture; occurs above the so-called elastic limit