Re: not really an answer
Posted by Skywise on September 14, 2007 at 21:51:04:

I'm reminded of the earthquake model using a brick dragged by an elastic string wound on a pulley. You start winding up the string at a steady rate and the brick stays in place until enough tension is built up that the brick suddenly slides.

The system starts with zero tension, but at any time after a brick-quake does the tension ever drop to zero?

Brian

Follow Ups:
     ● which has higher probability: North San Andreas or Coachella? - heartland chris  10:03:04 - 9/15/2007  (72626)  (2)
        ● Loma Prieta - John Vidale  11:05:45 - 9/15/2007  (72629)  (0)
        ● not my specialty - John Vidale  10:58:39 - 9/15/2007  (72628)  (1)
           ● apples and oranges - heartland chris  14:09:30 - 9/15/2007  (72631)  (1)
              ● not so easy to distinguish - John Vidale  16:52:53 - 9/15/2007  (72634)  (1)
                 ● Re: not so easy to distinguish - heartland chris  08:50:18 - 9/16/2007  (72641)  (1)
                    ● lightning striking twice - John Vidale  14:34:02 - 9/16/2007  (72644)  (1)
                       ● Re: lightning striking twice - heartland chris  16:50:07 - 9/16/2007  (72646)  (1)
                          ● argument without evidence - John Vidale  17:06:16 - 9/16/2007  (72647)  (0)