UPCAT Earth Science Practice Test 2025 - Free Earth Science Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct answer is the phenomenon caused by the rapid vibration of the Earth that releases energy, which is known as an earthquake. Earthquakes occur primarily due to the movement of tectonic plates, which are pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle and constantly move, albeit very slowly. When these plates interact at their boundaries, they can get stuck due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes this friction, there is a sudden release of energy that results in vibrations throughout the Earth, known as seismic waves. This release of energy is what causes the shaking associated with an earthquake.

In contrast, volcanoes result from the movement of magma from beneath the Earth’s crust but are not specifically due to vibrations; they typically occur when pressure from magma builds up and is released. Tsunamis are large ocean waves caused by underwater disturbances, often triggered by earthquakes, but they are not themselves the vibration of the Earth. Subduction refers to the process where one tectonic plate moves under another and is not a phenomenon of vibration or energy release, although it can lead to earthquakes.