Earthquake Machine Demonstration
David Steer
, The University of Akron
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This activity has been reviewed by 2 review processes
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This review took place as a part of a faculty professional development workshop where groups of faculty reviewed each others' activities and offered feedback and ideas for improvements. To learn more about the process On the Cutting Edge uses for activity review, see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.
This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Reviewed Teaching Collection
This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.
This page first made public: May 21, 2008
Summary
This classroom activity is a demonstration where students predict what will happen under various conditions. The "Earthquake Machine" shows relationships between stress, strain, friction along the fault and slip.
Context
Audience
Introductory earth science course for non-majors. It also works well in physical geology.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Students should have some rudimentary understanding of friction and the processes associated with fault movement.
How the activity is situated in the course
This demonstration is integrated with a lesson earthquake mechanics and perhaps magnitudes.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Apply the principles of stress, strain and friction to predict movement for a simulated earthquake.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Predicting the slip is an analysis-level activity. Matching the various processes in the Earth to actions or components of the earthquake machine is synthesis level.
Other skills goals for this activity
Students work in groups to complete these activities.
Description of the activity/assignment
Students are expected to complete readings related to the mechanics of earthquakes (most don't do it). This activity allows them to apply the rules and extend their knowledge by making predictions.
Determining whether students have met the goals
Students make predictions and answer the questions on the PPT using student response systems.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Download teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment (PowerPoint 118kB May5 08)
- Instructors Notes (Microsoft Word 25kB May5 08)
Other Materials
Supporting references/URLs
http://quake.usgs.gov/research/deformation/modeling/eqmodel.html
