Question

Which is likely to experience more damage during an earthquake: a house built on a solid rock ledge or a nearby house built on a soil river bank?

Answer 1

Soil river bank location likely.

Explanation:

A home built on a soil river bank would be subjected to intense vibrations during an earthquake which also set up harmonics that amplify the vibrations. If the soil is wet, the can also produce a kind of liquefaction phenomena between the water and soil particles. This turns the soil into a kind of quicksand and makes it easier for the mass to move (including your house!)

Homes built on solid rock will still transmit shock waves from the earthquake, but are not subjected to harmonics or liquefaction movement.n However, if the house is close to a rocky ledge, there is the possibility of a rock slide that takes the whole house away.