Examining your Earthquake Hazard
This is a partially developed activity description. It is included in the collection because it contains ideas useful for teaching even though it is incomplete.
Initial Publication Date: February 26, 2013
Summary
Students look at their seismic hazard and then determine the likelihood that their residence will be uninhabitable after 500-year return interval quake.
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Learning Goals
- Learn what seismic hazard is
- Learn to relate shaking to intensity
- Learn about the relationship between intensity and damage to structures.
Context for Use
This is used in a introductory natural hazards course. It could be done as a homework or lab.
Description and Teaching Materials
In this activity, students assess the ground shaking hazard and potential damage to their home from an earthquake of a certain magnitude using USGS data. The student handout (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 787kB Feb26 13) provides guiding instructions and questions designed to help students write a culminating Earthquake Hazard and Risk Report.
Teaching Notes and Tips
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Assessment
Students are assessed on their answers to questions on the student handout and via a Earthquake Hazard and Risk Report (described in the student handout).