What does it take to create a big earthquake? What does it mean for an earthquake to be magnitude 10.5? Is such an earthquake possible?

To find out, try the Earthquake Simulator, where you can control the parameters of the fault and explore their effect on the amount of energy released during an earthquake!

A Lesson plan and resources for using the Earthquake Simulator with students to discuss the miniseries "10.5" and earthquake myths!

For excellent discussions of earthquake fact and movie fiction, see

• USGS: Earthquakes, "Mega Quakes," and the Movies
• SCEC: "10.5" - a miniseries with major errors

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