Earthquakes are the vibrations caused by the movement of the lithospheric plates on the surface of the Earth. These vibrations can travel all around the Earth and are sometimes referred to as seismic waves. Let us understand this in more detail:

What are Lithospheric plates?
- The Earth's crust is made up of several large and small tectonic plates.
- These plates float on the semi-liquid layer beneath the Earth's crust called the mantle.
- The lithospheric plates are in constant motion and can collide, move apart, or slide past each other.

What causes Earthquakes?
- The movement of the lithospheric plates creates stress and pressure within the Earth's crust.
- When the stress becomes too great, the rocks along the plate boundaries fracture and break.
- This sudden release of energy causes the ground to shake, and we experience an earthquake.

What are seismic waves?
- Seismic waves are the vibrations that travel through the Earth's crust and mantle during an earthquake.
- There are two types of seismic waves: Primary waves (P-waves) and Secondary waves (S-waves).
- P-waves move faster than S-waves and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.
- S-waves can only travel through solids and are slower than P-waves.

Why are Earthquakes dangerous?
- Earthquakes can cause a lot of damage to buildings, infrastructure, and the environment.
- They can trigger landslides, tsunamis, and even volcanic eruptions.
- Earthquakes can also cause injuries and loss of life.

Conclusion:
In summary, earthquakes are the vibrations caused by the movement of the lithospheric plates on the surface of the Earth. These vibrations can travel all around the Earth and are sometimes referred to as seismic waves. Earthquakes can cause a lot of damage to the environment and can be dangerous for humans.

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