In a reverse fault, what happens to the left side?

Study for the Leaving Certificate Geography Test. Gain insight with scenarios and multiple choice questions. Equip yourself with exam-ready knowledge!

In a reverse fault, the left side of the fault plane indeed rises relative to the right side. This movement occurs because reverse faults are characterized by compression forces, which push the two sides of the fault towards each other. As a result, the block on the hanging wall (the side that rises) moves up and over the block on the footwall. This upward movement of the left side leads to features commonly associated with mountain building and is an important process in tectonic activity, especially in regions where the Earth’s crust is being compressed. Understanding this dynamic is key to studying geological formations and the processes that shape the Earth's surface.

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