Science Probe II Technology Activities

Chapter 13

Internet

1. If you were to look up the earthquake activity in a particular region, you would find statements by geologists that state something like, "Historically earthquakes have occurred in this region in 1952, 1932, 1856, 1720, the 1670s, and the 1300s." How do geologists arrive at those dates in those early time periods without having had seismographs? Conduct an Internet search to find the answer to this question. It might also be helpful to correspond through e-mail or talk in a web discussion site with a seismologist or a geologist to get your answers. Prepare a multimedia presentation to inform your classmates of what you have learned. Below is a web site to get you started:

Earthquakes (US Geological Survey) http://info.er.usgs.gov/network/science/earth/earthquake.html

2. Conduct an Internet search to find out what kind of earthquake activity there has been in your region in the past 1000 years or as far back as the region has been studied. Also find out where the faults, both active and inactive, are located in your region and which fault was responsible for each earthquake in the past.

Prepare a multimedia presentation to inform your classmates of what you have learned. Include topographic and cross-sectional maps that show the location of the faults.

Application Software

Activity 13D – Use a spreadsheet program to make your data table for Part I as directed in this activity. Record the data in the spreadsheet data table as you perform the activity. Use the graphing feature of the spreadsheet program to plot a graph of P and S wave time interval (in s) on the vertical axis and Distance from the epicenter (in m) on the horizontal axis. Using the spreadsheet program, make the data table for Part II. Use the mathematical functions of the spreadsheet to do the calculations for finding the time intervals between the arrivals of the P and S waves at each station. Use the graph in Figure 13.14 to determine the distance to the epicenter from each station, and enter it into the data table. Print the data tables, and secure them in your SCIENCE PROBE Logbook where you will answer the discussion questions.

Activity 13E – Use a spreadsheet program to make your data table for Part I. Record the data in the spreadsheet data table for Part II, Table 13.3. The data table sample shown below should be used in your spreadsheet.

Enter data from Table 13.3 above.

Use the mathematical functions of the spreadsheet to do the calculations for finding the average velocity (km/s). Print the data tables and secure them in your SCIENCE PROBE Logbook where you will answer the discussion questions.