LabWrite for Middle School - Earthquake Tower Lab

Name _______________________ Block ______ Date ________________________

LabWrite for Middle School

Earthquake Tower Laboratory

8^th Grade SCOS Objective 3.04 Evaluate the forces which shape the lithosphere: Earthquakes

Problem:

You will design and build an "earthquake resistant" structure using only a set amount of the materials below and your own ingenuity.

Materials:

Connecting Construction Base

__________________ _______________ ___________

wood glue toothpicks Styrofoam¨

rubber bands skill sticks

clay wooden splints

______________________________________________________

Procedure: Read-check-Read

1. What scientific concept will you be learning about?

Scientific Concept:

______________________________________________________________________

2. Your teacher(s) will assign you to a team. In your team design a three-story structure on paper that will withstand seismic earthquake waves.

You have 20 minutes.

List materials you will use.

3. Choose one construction material from the list above:

___________________________________________

4. Choose one connecting material from the list above: ___________________________________________

5. Draw a diagram of your structure with labels:

6. State why you believe your structure will withstand the simulation of seismic waves.

______________________________________________________________________

7. Show your design to your teacher for approval.

8. Construct your three-story structure. You have 45 minutes to build your structure.

9. With permission from your teacher look at structures made by other teams in the class. Predict which type of structure will sustain the least damage from seismic waves. State the reason for your prediction.

___________________________________________________________________

10. What is your hypothesis?

______________________________________________________________________

Variables:

construction materials, connecting material, height, time, amount of damage

11. What is/are your Independent variable(s):

______________________________________________________________________

12. What is/are your Dependent variable(s):

______________________________________________________________________

13. Teams perform the seismic simulation tests.

14. Record the results of the seismic simulation tests in Table 1.

Analysis:

Answer questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which structure was better able to withstand the "earthquake" caused by P waves? Why?

2. Which structure was better able to withstand the "earthquake" caused by S waves? Why?

3. Which type of seismic wave cause the least damage, the most damage? Why?

4. Which cement materials withstood the most seismic waves?

5. Which structure withstood the most seismic simulation of earthquake waves? Why?

5. How might wrapping your structure with rubber bands be similar to construction of supports for elevated highways?

6. Make a concept web of your scientific concept.

Hint: Put your scientific concept in the center of your web.

Discussion:

On a separate sheet of paper discuss your findings in a written paragraph or more.

Hint: You may use all of your notes.

Table 2. Results of seismic simulation tests of structures

	Height of structure in centimeters	Construction and connecting materials	Predicted Scale (1-5) of Damage to Structure Following Simulation *	Scale (1-5) of Damage to Structure Following Simulation *	Predicted Time in seconds Structure withstood wave (30 seconds maximum)	Time in seconds Structure withstood wave (30 seconds maximum)




Team #1




Team #2




Team #3




Team #4




Team #5




Team #6




Team #7




Team #8




Team #9




Team #10




Team #11

Note: 1 = minimum damage, 5 = maximum damage