Student Exploration: Earthquakes 2 – Determination of Epicenter
[NOTE TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS: This exercise assumes that you have a data table
and graph made while using the Earthquakes 1 – Recording Center Gizmo™. I
...
Student Exploration: Earthquakes 2 – Determination of Epicenter
[NOTE TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS: This exercise assumes that you have a data table
and graph made while using the Earthquakes 1 – Recording Center Gizmo™. If you do not
have those, or have never used that Gizmo before, do that first.]
Vocabulary: body wave, earthquake, epicenter, fault, focus, P wave, S wave, seismic wave,
seismogram, seismograph
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
Three dogs meet in a park. Each dog is attached by a leash to its owner (triangles).
1. What does each colored circle represent?The area that each
dog could walk . The leash defines radius.
1. Where could all the dogs meet in one place? Draw this point
on the diagram.
2. Is there another spot where all three dogs could meet? No
Explain: Because the areas all intersect at 1 point
only.
Gizmo Warm-up
When you used the Earthquakes 1 – Recording Station
Gizmo™, you learned how to find the distance from a recording station to the epicenter. With the Earthquakes 2 – Determination of Epicenter Gizmo, you will use data from three recording stations to find the exact location of the epicenter.
Click Play ( ), and then click Pause ( ) when the seismograms are complete. Compare the three seismograms.
1. Which recording station is closest to the epicenter? C
How do you know? Because the lag phase between p and s wave is shortest.
1. Which recording station is farthest from the epicenter? B
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