As stress builds up over many years on a fault, the rocks store Blank______. Multiple choice question.compressionpotential energybendingtension

The correct answer to the multiple-choice question is potential energy.

Explanation:

As stress builds up over many years on a fault, the rocks undergo deformation and store potential energy. This energy is a result of the elastic deformation of rocks due to the applied stress. When the stress exceeds the strength of the rocks, it can result in a sudden release of this stored energy in the form of an earthquake.

Potential energy in this context refers to the energy that is stored in the rocks due to their position or arrangement when they are being deformed under stress.

Summary:

Thus, in the context of the question, as stress builds up on a fault, the rocks store potential energy.