How does stress effect earthquakes?

Stress in the Earth's crust plays a crucial role in the occurrence of earthquakes. When stress accumulates due to tectonic plate movements, it can exceed the strength of rocks, causing them to fracture and release energy in the form of seismic waves—resulting in an earthquake. This process is often associated with fault lines, where the stress is concentrated and eventually leads to a sudden slip along the fault. The release of this built-up stress is what we feel as shaking during an earthquake.