Human Wave Demo—Modeling P & S waves in Solids & Liquids

Resource 6 Related Resources Animations Human Wave Demo—Modeling P & S waves in Solids & Liquids Novice Resource Files Instructor Guide Download All 2MB How can I model P and S waves with my class? This demonstration explores two of the four (P and S waves) main ways energy propagates from the hypocenter of an earthquake. In this kinesthetic demo, students "experience" the waves as they line up shoulder-to-shoulder to "become" the solid and then liquid material the waves travel through. The physical nature of the "Human wave" demonstration makes it a highly engaging activity for most students. Some find that this tactile/kinesthetic learning activity stretches them personally; while for others it channels disruptive energy into a creative endeavor. Either way, developing ways to physically involve students in learning helps students grasp, internalize and maintain abstract information. Once "performed," the principles of P and S waves will not be easily forgotten. The Instructor Guide offers a simpler method than the video shown here, though graphs for the video method are included in the Guide.   Objectives: An earthquake causes different types of energy to radiate from the epicenter The P and S waves are the first two to arrive at any specific point P waves and S waves have different motions and shake the earth differently as they travel through it S waves do not travel through liquid Human Wave: Modeling Seismic Waves in the Classroom Video NoviceHow can I get across the idea in a classroom activity using no props? The human wave is used as an analogy for travel times of P and S seismic waves. This draft video uses arms over shoulders as well as hand holding methods, so read the caveats abou... Human Wave: Modeling Seismic Waves in the Classroom How can I get across the idea in a classroom activity using no props? The human wave is used as an analogy for travel times of P and S seismic waves. This draft video uses arms over shoulders as well as hand holding methods, so read the caveats about the best method (arms over shoulders).  Video Novice Related Animations Seismic Shadow Zone: Basic Introduction Seismic shadow zones have taught us much about the inside of the earth. This shows how P waves travel through solids and liquids, but S waves are stopped by the liquid outer core. Animation Novice Seismic Shadow Zones vs Light Shadows The wave properties of light are used as an analogy to help us understand seismic-wave behavior. Animation Novice Layers of the Earth The Earth has 3 main layers based on chemical composition: crust, mantle, and core. Other layers are defined by physical characteristics due to pressure and temperature changes. This animation tells how the layers were discovered, what the layers are, and a bit about how the crust differs from the tectonic (lithospheric) plates, a distinction confused by many. Animation Novice Seismic Wave Behavior: Curving paths through the Earth Seismic waves travel a curving path through the earth due to changes in composition, pressure, and temperature within the layers of the Earth.  Animation Novice 1-Component Seismogram: Building responds to P, S, surface waves Seismic waves travel through the earth to a single seismic station. Scale and movement of the seismic station are greatly exaggerated to depict the relative motion recorded by the seismogram as P, S, and surface waves arrive. Animation Novice 3-Component Seismogram Records Seismic-wave Motion We use exaggerated motion of a building (seismic station) to show how the ground moves during an earthquake, and why it is important to measure seismic waves using 3 components: vertical, N-S, and E-W. Before showing an actual distant earthquake, we break down the three axes of movement to clarify the 3 seismograms.  Animation Novice