Dr. Houghton – Earthquake activity and vocabulary
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This lesson is a web-based activity designed to introduce you to the
concepts of how scientists locate an earthquake epicenter and how they
determine the Richter magnitude of an earthquake. The activity illustrates
how scientists use seismic waves to determine the magnitude and locate
the epicenter of an earthquake.
Due:
Activity 1: end of class period
Vocabulary: end of class period
Activity 2: beginning of next class period (A level)
Grading:
C level – Finish activity 1 (discussed with teacher and demonstrated
an understanding of activity), finished vocabulary terms, and began
activity 2 in class.
B level – Finish activity 1 (discussed with teacher) and vocabulary –
Printed certificate for activity 1, started and demonstrated an
understanding of activity 2 during class.
A level – Finish activity 1, 2, and vocabulary – Printed certificates,
quiz grade above 90% (everything completed, but 80-90% = B+).
Activity 1
1) Open Firefox, not Safari – you may have to go to Mac HD - App
2) Go to the following website: http://www.sciencecourseware.org
3) Click on the link that reads: Virtual Courseware for earth and
environmental sciences
4) Click on the link that reads: Virtual Earthquake (not Earthquake)
5) Go to the bottom of the page and click on the link that reads:
Execute VirtualEarthquake
6) Read and complete: pages 1-12
7) After filling in all the info, print out your certificate to complete
activity 1.
8) Discuss with: instructor.
9) Show your certificate: to the instructor.
10) Begin: vocabulary search
Dr. Houghton – Earthquake activity and vocabulary
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Period:
Date:
Vocabulary search:
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Go to the following website: http://www.sciencecourseware.org
Click on the link that reads: Virtual Courseware for earth and
environmental sciences
Click on the link that reads: Earthquake (not Virtual Earthquake)
Click on the tab on the right hand side that reads: epicenter and
magnitude
Read the information on the new page and then click on the tab
on the right hand side that reads: start activity
While you are waiting: There will be a pop up, read and then click
on the tab that reads: close
On the next window: click on the tab that reads: background
Click on the tab that reads: expand
Read the background information: be sure to click on and read
the information for any and all links
Ask questions: if there is anything that you do not understand
please discuss with the instructor
After you have read, click on the tab at the top that reads:
glossary
Fill in (write or type out, hint: copy and paste into word) the
definitions for your vocabulary sheet – all terms can be found on
the glossary page
Show your completed vocabulary sheet: to the instructor
Begin activity 2
Dr. Houghton – Earthquake activity and vocabulary
Vocabulary sheet:
Amplitude
Epicenter
Focus
Latitude
Longitude
Magnitude
Moment Magnitude
P Waves
Rayleigh Wave
Richter Magnitude
Richter nomogram
S Waves
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Dr. Houghton – Earthquake activity and vocabulary
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Activity 2
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After completing your vocabulary sheet and showing it to the
instructor, click on the tab that reads: collapse
Click on the tab that reads: journal
Follow the directions for the assignment; be sure to fill in the
entire journal data page
Assignment: Your objective is to locate the epicenter of an earthquake and estimate its richter
magnitude. If you don’t know a term, return to the background and use your vocabulary terms for
clarification.
a. Start by clicking on “choose earthquake” tool on line 1 of the tasks (it’s the little square that
is highlighted in the right corner (top left of the 11 squares).
b. Select one of the options for the location of an earthquake (right-hand column). You must
choose Northern, Southern California, or Utah. You may not choose “random”.
c. Click the “trigger Earthquake” button on the map to generate an earthquake and its
seismograms. Other tools will give information about its purpose. With these tools, do the
following tasks in the order given in the tasks menu. BE SURE TO FILL IN THE DATA IN
THE JOURNAL AS YOU GO!
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Measure the S-P lag times for any 3 stations (If the S-P lag goes off the screen - go
to 5% - only use stations that do not go off the edge of the screen at 5%)
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Find the distances from the epicenter
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Measure the maximum S-wave amplitude
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Draw circles on the map to triangulate to the epicenter
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Locate the epicenter on the map
vi.
Estimate the latitude and longitude of your earthquakes epicenter (remember lat and
long has degrees and also has minutes and seconds) if you don’t understand ask
your instructor)
vii.
Estimate your earthquakes magnitude
d. As you progress, be sure to enter your results in the journals data table
e. After you determine the magnitude and the latitude and longitude of the epicenter, you will
be given a quiz and a certificate of completion
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Take the: quiz
Fill out information: for your certificate
Please print your: certificate
Pass in your certificate to: the instructor