NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Evaluating Earthquakes Jill Frank September 2006 NSF NMGK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Earthquakes Abrupt shakings of the Earth caused by the release of built up pressure on the Earth’s surface. Abrupt shakings of the Earth caused by the release of built up pressure on the Earth’s surface. Earthquakes cause the Earth to shake for less than a minute but can do major damage. Earthquakes cause the Earth to shake for less than a minute but can do major damage.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Is the Earth’s Crust One Solid Sheet? The crust of Earth is actually broken into 12 main plates that fit together like puzzle pieces. The crust of Earth is actually broken into 12 main plates that fit together like puzzle pieces.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 The Floating Earth The mantle is the layer of Earth just below the crust. It is a made up of a liquid. The mantle is the layer of Earth just below the crust. It is a made up of a liquid. Because the mantle is liquid, the hard surface of the Earth is actually floating. Because the mantle is liquid, the hard surface of the Earth is actually floating. The crust floating on the mantle is similar to crackers floating on top of soup. The crust floating on the mantle is similar to crackers floating on top of soup.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Who’s Fault is it? The space between two plates is called a fault. The space between two plates is called a fault. Because earthquakes occur when two plates rub together, they are often said to occur on fault lines. Because earthquakes occur when two plates rub together, they are often said to occur on fault lines.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Plate Movement Earth’s plates can move in three directions: Earth’s plates can move in three directions: –Divergent –Convergent –Transformational This movement forms an earthquake

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 How Does an Earthquake Form? When plates try to move in opposite directions, they put pressure on each other because they do not want to slide past each other. When plates try to move in opposite directions, they put pressure on each other because they do not want to slide past each other. When the pressure gets too great the pressure breaks and the plates are forced to slide. This sliding, called friction, is rough and jerky which causes the Earth to shake. When the pressure gets too great the pressure breaks and the plates are forced to slide. This sliding, called friction, is rough and jerky which causes the Earth to shake.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 The Center of it All The point where the plates experience the friction is called the epicenter. The point where the plates experience the friction is called the epicenter. Where is the epicenter in this picture? Where is the epicenter in this picture? Epicenter

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Who Feels the Shaking? The shaking starts at the epicenter and spreads in circles outward much like the ripples of water dripping into a puddle. The shaking starts at the epicenter and spreads in circles outward much like the ripples of water dripping into a puddle.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Seismic Waves The waves of shaking are called seismic waves. The waves of shaking are called seismic waves.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 The Richter Scale The Richter scale is used to measure how much shaking an earthquake causes. The Richter scale is used to measure how much shaking an earthquake causes. The Richter scale gives each earthquake a number from The Richter scale gives each earthquake a number from –Less than 2 – cannot be felt –2 and 4 – can be felt but do not cause damage –5 and 6 – can cause damage –7-10 are major earthquakes and cause severe damage

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 How Do We Measure An Earthquake? Earthquakes are measured using a seismometer. Earthquakes are measured using a seismometer.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 A Homemade Seismometer As the Earth shakes it causes the cup and pencil to swing drawing lines on the paper. As the Earth shakes it causes the cup and pencil to swing drawing lines on the paper. Would a major earthquake make big lines or small lines? Would a major earthquake make big lines or small lines?

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Earthquake Damage

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Does Mississippi Have Earthquakes? Yes, but they are very rare. Yes, but they are very rare. In 1812 an earthquake of 8.2 magnitude was recorded in Memphis, TN. Mississippi felt the shaking. In 1812 an earthquake of 8.2 magnitude was recorded in Memphis, TN. Mississippi felt the shaking. It is predicted that this fault will produce another quake in the next 50 years. It is predicted that this fault will produce another quake in the next 50 years.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Works Cited Berkley Earthquake. Accessed 20 Sept Berkley Earthquake. Accessed 20 Sept CDLI. Earthquakes: seismic waves. Accessed 20 Sept CDLI. Earthquakes: seismic waves. Accessed 20 Sept ETI Sniffing for oil and earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept geochemistry.com/gulfeq/images/pic07.html ETI Sniffing for oil and earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept geochemistry.com/gulfeq/images/pic07.htmlhttp:// geochemistry.com/gulfeq/images/pic07.htmlhttp:// geochemistry.com/gulfeq/images/pic07.html FEMA. Earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept FEMA. Earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept Live Science. New Data Confirms Strong Earthquake Risk to Central U.S. Accessed 20 Sept Live Science. New Data Confirms Strong Earthquake Risk to Central U.S. Accessed 20 Sept Maps Earth’s tectonic plates. Accessed 20 Sept Maps Earth’s tectonic plates. Accessed 20 Sept Maryland Geological Society Earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept Maryland Geological Society Earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept Nana’s Recipes. Accessed 20 Sept Nana’s Recipes. Accessed 20 Sept North Mississippi GK-8. Earthquake activites. Accessed 20 Sept hquake.pdf North Mississippi GK-8. Earthquake activites. Accessed 20 Sept hquake.pdf hquake.pdf hquake.pdf Physical Geography Earthquakes. Accessed 21 Sept Physical Geography Earthquakes. Accessed 21 Sept Provincial Emergency Program Earthquake damage. Accessed 20 Sept Provincial Emergency Program Earthquake damage. Accessed 20 Sept The Tech. Earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept The Tech. Earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept Thinkquest. Earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept Thinkquest. Earthquakes. Accessed 20 Sept