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This is an activity that models the operation of a seismograph, a tool used to measure the size of earthquakes. While driving down the highway as a passenger in a car, learners slowly draw a line across a sheet of paper to record the up-and-down motion of the car as it goes over bumps both big and small. The resulting picture is a seismogram-like recording. Learners can take the activity further by measuring the "Pothole Scale" - a logarithmic scale that models the more well-known Richter scale.
- Under 5 minutes
- 30 to 45 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per student
- Ages 11 - 18
- Activity, Model
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- a car, a driver, and a bumpy highway
- a felt-tipped pen
- a pad of lined paper
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Processes
- Earthquakes
-
Earth Processes
-
Mathematics
-
Measurement
- Systems
-
Measurement
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Exploratorium,