Geology Labs Virtual Earthquake
Instructions
PART 1: P Waves and S Waves Travel Times
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Go to the virtual earthquake website via my science website.
Click on “travel time” (you may have to allow pop-ups to see this after you click it)
READ and then click the yellow start button to the right of the graph. (it’s hard to see)
Read the informational screen that pops up to familiarize yourself with the program. (it has blue
arrows – if it doesn’t pop up for you, don’t worry – you’ll figure it out)
5. Put your first and last name in the box.
6. Click on the ‘background’ tab and READ – be sure to scroll down. If you are not sure what some
of the words mean, you can click on them (the linked ones only).
7. Click on the ‘assignment’ tab and follow those steps exactly.
a. There are often more directions in the orange box on the right.
b. When measuring the distances, be sure you put the measurements in the right part of the
journal chart.
c. When finished answering the questions at the end of the journal, print it.
PART 2: P Waves and S Waves Travel Times – This one is more challenging. Take your time.
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From the main page (link on my website if you lost it) continue to the “Epicenter & Magnitude”
activity.
READ and then click the yellow start button to the right of the map. (it’s hard to see)
Be sure to read the informational screen that pops up to familiarize yourself with the program.
(it has blue arrows)
Put your first and last name in the box.
Click on the ‘background’ tab and READ – be sure to scroll down. If you are not sure what
some of the words mean, you can click on them (the linked ones only).
Click on the ‘assignment’ tab and follow those steps exactly.
a. You have completed a task only after it has been checked off on the screen.
b. Finding the amplitude is new in this activity. Follow the directions carefully, and if you
get stuck click on a blue word for help. Don’t forget there are additional directions in the
box on the right sometimes too.
c. You may have trouble with latitude and longitude. Use the tutorial button to help.
When you finish you will see a completely new screen. Enter the required information BUT DO
NOT ENTER A CLASS CODE. Continue through the warning questions to proceed without a
class code.
Answer the 10 questions. Some of these will be quite a challenge. Do your best. You can
always go back to the activity for some help.
When you get to a screen with a certificate, print it. Turn it in for your grade.
SAVING…
You can save your session by clicking the save button at the top of the screen. Save the session
only. You can then load your saved session the next time you run this activity by clicking on the
Open button at the top before triggering an earthquake.
If you don’t finish in the lab today, you will need to finish outside of class by Monday.
TURN in a print-out from Part 1 and Part 2 for your grade.