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How Big of a Quake Can You Make?

Quake Location

Here is our ninth seismology mini-investigation to support those of you still leading e-learning as a result of stay-at-home orders!  This might be used either as an extension or introduction to the idea that an earthquake’s magnitude is determined by physical features of the fault.  The correlation between magnitude and energy released is a strong emphasis.  Students use some basic math and a few assumptions to calculate the magnitude of their own jumpquake! 

Teachable Moment

Teachable Moment Presentation

Guided activity (docx / pdf)

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