Earthquake!

Earthquake!

Science Process Skills

observing and comparing

inferring

applying

Materials

miniature marshmallows- l package

round toothpicks- 2 or 3 boxes

modeling clay- 3/4 lb. per group

firm Jell-O (see recipe below)

rectangular pan for Jell-O (approximately 9"x12")

8" plates- 2 per group

large table

Jell-O Recipe
2 pkgs unflavored gelatin (Knox Gelatin)
1 6oz. pkg Jell-O
2 1/2 cups water

Dissolve unflavored gelatin in 1 1/2 cups of water.
Set aside.
Boil 1 cup water and add Jell-O.
Stir until dissolved.
Add gelatin mixture- Stir.
Pour into greased rectangular pan.
Refrigerate until solid (about 2 hours).

Doing the Activity

Make a slab of clay approximately 4" x 4" x 1".

Place it in the center of plate #1.

Cut a slab of Jell-O about 4" x 4" x 1".

Place it in the center of plate #2.

Using toothpicks and marshmallows, build two identical one story towers.

Press one tower down firmly into the clay on plate #1.

Press the other tower down firmly into the Jell-O on plate #2.

Add a second and third story to the tower on each plate.

Gently shake the table to simulate an earthquake.

Observe the reaction of each structure to the shaking.

Reflecting

Describe how your structures reacted on the different ground conditions. (The Jell-O and the clay)

What do you think would happen to your structures if you made them taller? How does this activity relate to real life earthquakes like the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake?

Applying

Redesign your structures so that they can withstand the shaking better.

What's Happening

Ground conditions can have considerable effect on the intensity with which an earthquake is felt. Wet soils like beaches, marshes, and reclaimed landfill sites tend to shake the most, while solid bedrock shakes the least.

More Challenges

Make a poster about earthquake preparedness ideas to share with others.

Write an earthquake preparedness article for your local newspaper.

Discuss possible natural disaster scenarios at home with your family. Ask your family if they have developed plans for an earthquake or other natural disaster situation. If your family has not developed any plans yet, now is a good time to begin. Write down any plans you develop.

Activity Source

Ponzio, Richard. (1991) "4-H SERIES- Beyond Duck and Cover." Cooperative Extension, 4-H Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

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NNST CYFERNet

	Earthquake!
	Science Process Skills observing and comparing inferring applying
	Materials miniature marshmallows- l package round toothpicks- 2 or 3 boxes modeling clay- 3/4 lb. per group firm Jell-O (see recipe below) rectangular pan for Jell-O (approximately 9"x12") 8" plates- 2 per group large table Jell-O Recipe 2 pkgs unflavored gelatin (Knox Gelatin) 1 6oz. pkg Jell-O 2 1/2 cups water Dissolve unflavored gelatin in 1 1/2 cups of water. Set aside. Boil 1 cup water and add Jell-O. Stir until dissolved. Add gelatin mixture- Stir. Pour into greased rectangular pan. Refrigerate until solid (about 2 hours).
	Doing the Activity Make a slab of clay approximately 4" x 4" x 1". Place it in the center of plate #1. Cut a slab of Jell-O about 4" x 4" x 1". Place it in the center of plate #2. Using toothpicks and marshmallows, build two identical one story towers. Press one tower down firmly into the clay on plate #1. Press the other tower down firmly into the Jell-O on plate #2. Add a second and third story to the tower on each plate. Gently shake the table to simulate an earthquake. Observe the reaction of each structure to the shaking.
	Reflecting Describe how your structures reacted on the different ground conditions. (The Jell-O and the clay) What do you think would happen to your structures if you made them taller? How does this activity relate to real life earthquakes like the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake?
	Applying Redesign your structures so that they can withstand the shaking better.
	What's Happening Ground conditions can have considerable effect on the intensity with which an earthquake is felt. Wet soils like beaches, marshes, and reclaimed landfill sites tend to shake the most, while solid bedrock shakes the least.
	More Challenges Make a poster about earthquake preparedness ideas to share with others. Write an earthquake preparedness article for your local newspaper. Discuss possible natural disaster scenarios at home with your family. Ask your family if they have developed plans for an earthquake or other natural disaster situation. If your family has not developed any plans yet, now is a good time to begin. Write down any plans you develop.
	Activity Source Ponzio, Richard. (1991) "4-H SERIES- Beyond Duck and Cover." Cooperative Extension, 4-H Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.