A normal fault is associated with which type of stress?

A normal fault occurs when two blocks of the Earth's crust are pulled apart due to tectonic forces. This movement is primarily associated with tension, which is a type of stress that stretches and elongates rock formations. In a normal fault, the hanging wall block moves downward relative to the footwall block, which is a direct result of this tensional stress.

This process often takes place in areas where tectonic plates are diverging, such as mid-ocean ridges or continental rift zones. As the crust is subjected to extensional forces, it fractures, allowing for the characteristic downthrown movement of the hanging wall seen in normal faults. Understanding the relationship between normal faults and tensional stress is crucial when studying geological processes and features on the Earth's surface.