Description
In this activity, students will use SeisMac, or another three component accelerometer to examine their assumptions about how 'hard" the ground shakes during an earthquake.
Audience
All Audiences
Time
65 Minutes
Objective
1. How hard does the Earth shake during an earthquake?
2. What does an accelerometer measure? How can it be used to measure an earthquake?
3. What is an earthquakes intensity?
4. How is an earthquakes intensity measured?
Supporting Resources
SeisMac software installed on a Mac laptop
Download video footage of two-story house being tested by a simulated earthquake on a shake table at the University of California at San Diego on July 11, 2000; Kitchen/Office(5.3MB) and Child's Bedroom(4.1MB)
ppt file for use with this activity
Related Resources
USGS "Shake Map" - ShakeMap sites
provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity
following significant earthquakes.
USGS "Did You Feel It" - Community Internet Intensity Map
