Student Exploration: Earthquakes 1 – Recording Station
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: body wave, earthquake, epi
...
Student Exploration: Earthquakes 1 – Recording Station
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: body wave, earthquake, epicenter, fault, focus, P-wave, S-wave, seismic wave, seismogram,
seismograph
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
Gizmo Warm-up
The Earthquakes 1 – Recording Station Gizmo simulates the seismic waves
released by an earthquake. To begin, look at the key on the bottom left side
of the Gizmo.
1. The epicenter of the earthquake is the point on Earth’s surface closest
to the focus, or origin, of the earthquake.
2. Click Play ( ) and observe the seismic waves leaving the epicenter of
the earthquake.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
Name: Stephanie Maurad Date: 2/22/21
1. Have you ever experienced an earthquake? If
so, what did it feel like?
I’ve never
experienced an
earthquake.
2. Earthquakes are usually caused by the sudden movement of rocks
along a fault, or fracture, in Earth’s crust. The most famous fault in the
U.S. is the San Andreas Fault in California.
What major cities are located near the San Andreas Fault?
San Francisco and Los Angeles are located near the San Andreas
fault.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Earthquakes 1 – Recording Station Gizmo simulates the seismic waves
released by an earthquake. To begin, look at the key on the bottom left side
of the Gizmo.
1. The epicenter of the earthquake is the point on Earth’s surface closest
to the focus, or origin, of the earthquake.
2. Click Play ( ) and observe the seismic waves leaving the epicenter of
the earthquake.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
Name: Stephanie Maurad Date: 2/22/21
1. Have you ever experienced an earthquake? If
so, what did it feel like?
I’ve never
experienced an
earthquake.
2. Earthquakes are usually caused by the sudden movement of rocks
along a fault, or fracture, in Earth’s crust. The most famous fault in the
U.S. is the San Andreas Fault in California.
What major cities are located near the San Andreas Fault?
San Francisco and Los Angeles are located near the San Andreas
fault.
A. What symbol represents the epicenter? The circle.
B. What symbol represents the recording
station?
The triangle.
A. What types of seismic waves are released? P and S seismic waves are released.
B. Look at the Recording station detector on
the upper left side of the Gizmo. What
happens when the seismic waves hit the
recording station?
When the seismic waves hit the recording
station, they’re recorded on the station detector.
The P waves aren’t very effective, but the S
waves are.
An earthquake releases an enormous amount of energy, which passes through Earth’s interior in
the form of body waves. There are two types of body waves: P-waves (primary waves) and S-waves
(secondary waves).
Scientists study earthquakes with the aid of an instrument called a seismograph. When seismic waves reach
the seismograph, a graphical record, or seismogram, is produced.
Question: How are P- and S-waves shown on a seismogram?
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