Name:_______________________________________________Section:______________________Date:___________
Strike-Slip Fault
Imagine walking on a road when suddenly, the ground beneath you shifts—not up or down, but
sideways! Buildings on the other side of the crack seem to slide past you, and fences that were once aligned are
now split apart. What could cause this kind of movement?
Have you ever seen a crack in the pavement where the two sides don’t line up anymore? That’s similar
to what happens on a much larger scale with strike-slip faults! But how do these faults form, and what do they
tell us about the powerful forces inside the Earth? Let’s find out!
Activity 1: 4 pics, 1 word
Look at the four images displayed on the screen. Observe them carefully and think about what they have in
common. Fill in the blanks to best describe the connection between all four pictures.
1. What do you notice about the images? Do they show movement? If so, in what direction? ___________________
2. Do you think these images relate to how the Earth's surface moves? Why or why not? ______________________
The pictures you just saw all have something in common—they represent movement, specifically
sideways movement. This is exactly what happens in a special type of fault
called a strike-slip fault. Unlike other faults where the land moves up or
down, strike-slip faults move sideways, past each other—just like when
you rub your hands together. This movement happens because of shear
forces, which push the rocks in opposite horizontal directions. Now, let us
dive deeper as to what happens in strike-slip faults. If dip-slip faults form
landscapes like mountains and valleys due to its up and down motion, have
you ever wondered what happens when faults move in a side-to-side/horizontal direction?
A strike-slip fault is a type of fault where two blocks of the Earth’s crust slide horizontally past each other due
to shear forces. Unlike dip-slip faults, where the land moves up or down because of pulling or pushing forces,
strike-slip faults move sideways, almost like two people brushing past each other in a narrow hallway. There are
two types of strike-slip faults, and they depend on the way the land moves:
sinistral strike-slip fault and dextral strike-slip fault. Let’s explore each one!
Sinistral strike-slip fault- A left-lateral fault where, if you stand on one side
and face the fault, the opposite block moves to your left.
Dextral strike-slip fault- A right-lateral fault where, if you stand on one side
and face the fault, the opposite block moves to your right.
Activity 2: Draw Me! Illustrate a strike-slip fault and show its movement.
Draw two pieces of land on each side of the fault. Use arrows to show the direction of movement. Add details
like roads, rivers, or fences to show how they shift. Write a short explanation of your drawing.
Sinistral Strike-Slip Dextral Strike-Slip