What role does friction play in fault movement?

Friction plays a crucial role in fault movement by opposing the sliding of rocks along a fault line. The presence of friction prevents the rocks on either side of a fault from moving freely, which leads to the accumulation of stress and energy in the Earth's crust over time. When the stress exceeds the frictional force holding the rocks together, it can result in a sudden release of energy, causing an earthquake. This mechanism indicates that friction is a significant factor in creating a delay in fault movement, contributing to the buildup of strain before an eventual slip occurs. Therefore, it is accurate to say that friction prevents constant movement on faults by holding the rocks together until that friction is overcome by tectonic forces. Understanding this relationship is key to grasping how fault mechanics and earthquake dynamics function in geology.