Chapter 26, Problem 16RQ

To determine

The kind of faults forms primarily from tension in Earth's crust and primarily from compression.

Answer to Problem 16RQ

The normal faults forms due to the tension in Earth's crust and reverse fault forms due to the compression of Earth's crust.

Explanation of Solution

The faulting occurs in the Earth's crust when surface of the rock crack or slip with respect to each other due to the tension and compression effect.

The tension effect pulls and stretches the rock, which makes the rock thin from the middle. Due to this, normal faults form in the Earth's crust. On the other hand, the compression effect tends to fold the rock, and due to this, reverse faults form in the Earth's crust.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the normal faults form due to the tension in Earth's crust and reverse fault form due to the compression of Earth's crust.