In geology, the elastic rebound theory was the first theory to satisfactorily explain earthquakes.

Previously it was thought that ruptures of the surface were the result of strong ground shaking rather than the converse suggested by this theory.

Following the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Henry Feilding Reid examined the displacement of the ground surface around the San Andreas Fault.

From his observations he concluded that the earthquake must have been the result of the elastic rebound of previously stored elastic strain energy in the rocks on either side of the fault..

For more information about the topic Elastic-rebound theory of earthquakes, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

North Anatolian Fault — The North Anatolian Fault is one of the most energetic earthquake zones in the world. Turkey is set on a minor tectonic plate which is being squeezed ...  > read more

Hayward Fault Zone — The Hayward Fault Zone is located in northern California in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is parallel to and east of its more famous (and much ...  > read more

Alpine Fault — The Alpine Fault is a geological fault, known as a right-lateral strike-slip fault, that runs almost the entire length of New Zealand's South Island. ...  > read more

Geologic fault — Geologic faults or simply faults are planar rock fractures which show evidence of relative movement. Large faults within the Earth's crust are the ...  > read more

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