SpeedrooHow fast does an earthquake rupture spread along a fault?
5,592 mphAbout 9,000 km/h · Jet
Usually about 4,500 mph (2 km/s) to 6,700 mph (3 km/s), so a big quake can unzip hundreds of miles in a minute or two.
That's about 160 times a red kangaroo's top speed of about 35 mph (56 km/h).
🫨5,592 mph
✈️a cruising 747
By speed: an earthquake rupture is about 10× faster than a cruising 747.
Things about as fast
- How fast was the X-15 rocket plane?4,520 mph
- How fast does Phobos orbit Mars?4,787 mph
- How fast did Alan Shepard fly on the first US spaceflight?5,180 mph
- What is the Moon's escape velocity?5,324 mph
- How fast does Uranus spin at its equator?5,791 mph
- How fast does Neptune spin at its equator?5,996 mph
- How fast is the rocket sled speed record?6,416 mph
- How fast does a geostationary satellite move?6,879 mph
Many real things vary, so we use a typical or official figure. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected].