Question

what happens when stress builds at faults?
energy is absorbed.
rock can bend and break.
plates form on the lithosphere.
earthquakes develop at earths surface.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• "Energy is absorbed": When stress builds at faults, energy is released (like in earthquakes), not absorbed. Eliminate this.
• "Rock can bend and break": Stress on rocks at faults can cause them to deform (bend) and then break when the stress exceeds their strength. This is a key process.
• "Plates form on the lithosphere": Tectonic plates are part of the lithosphere and already exist; stress at faults doesn't form new plates. Eliminate this.
• "Earthquakes develop at Earth’s surface": Earthquakes originate from stress release along faults (often within the crust), not just at the surface. The primary effect of stress building is rock deformation/breakage leading to seismic activity, but the direct event of stress build - up is rock bending/breaking.

Answer:

Rock can bend and break.