Where Was the Earthquake Lab?

Where was the Earthquake Lab?

Learning Goal: Demonstrate how earthquakes are measured NAME: ______

Safety: Sharp Objects (compass)

Procedures: Follow the directions at each table to answer the questions in your packet.

Station 1: Locate the Epicenter

Use triangulation to find the exact location of the earthquake

City / Distance from the Epicenter
Phoenix Arizona / 1000 km
Pierre South Dakota / 1800 km
Olympia Washington / 1000 km

What is the nearest city for the earthquake?(1 pt) ______

Station 2: Locate the Epicenter

Use triangulation to find the exact location of the earthquake

City / Distance from the Epicenter
Nashville Tennessee / 1600 km
St. Paul Minnesota / 1100 km
Santa Fe New Mexico / 500 km

What is the nearest city for the earthquake?(1 pt) ______

Station 3: Locate the Epicenter

Use triangulation to find the exact location of the earthquake

City / Distance from the Epicenter
Des Moines Iowa / 400 km
Lincoln Nebraska / 600 km
Madison Wisconsin / 600 km

What is the nearest city for the earthquake?(1 pt) ______

Station 4: Create YOUR QUAKE

Using the map, create your own “earthquake”. Indicate the distances from the stations as well as the actual city where the earthquake occurred

City / Distance from the Epicenter

Epicenter of earthquake: ______

Station 5: Reading the Seismogram

Use the seismogram below to find the arrival time for the P & S waves

City / P Wave Arrival Time / S Wave Arrival Time / Difference in P & S Time
Juneau (1 pt)
Richmond (1 pt)
Honolulu (1 pt)

Which city is closest to the earthquake? (1 pt)______

Station 6: What is the magnitude?

For each seismogram, find the magnitude using the nomogram on the next page (4 pt)

City / S – P / Amplitude / Magnitude
Salt Lake City Utah / 12 sec / 10 mm
Anchorage Alaska / 40 sec / 15 mm
San Diego California / 30 sec / 5 mm
Sample 2 (bottom of scale)

Station 7: Making your own Seismogram

Using the data table provided, draw your own seismic waves

Station 7 DATA TABLE:

City / P Wave Arrival Time / S Wave Arrival Time / Amplitude of S wave
WHR East / 9 min 30 sec / 33 min / .02 cm
WHR North / 8 min / 16 min / .025 cm
WHR West / 15 min / 38 min / .01 cm