Quake Coords Map Activity Quake Coords
Distance Verification Activity | GED Science
Map Analysis
Student Name:
Date:
Seismic Log 884-X
<table class="w-full text-[10px] font-bold border-collapse"><tbody><tr class="border-b border-slate-700 text-slate-400 uppercase font-black text-[8px]"><td>Station</td><td class="text-right">Epicenter Dist.</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-slate-800"><td class="py-2 text-white">Station A (8, 10)</td><td class="py-2 text-orange-300 text-right italic font-black">100 km</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-slate-800"><td class="py-2 text-white">Station B (8, 2)</td><td class="py-2 text-orange-300 text-right italic font-black">300 km</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-slate-800"><td class="py-2 text-white">Station C (11, 8)</td><td class="py-2 text-orange-300 text-right italic font-black">150 km</td></tr></tbody></table>
Map Scale: 1 unit = 50 km
Math Verification
2 units = 100km
3 units = 150km
6 units = 300km
GED Challenge
Explain why a Magnitude 7 quake is 100x stronger than a Magnitude 5:
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Pacific Ocean
Continental Plate
Coastline
L
M
N
P
A
B
C
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1. Based on the log, which station is furthest?
2. Which point (L, M, N, or P) is the epicenter?
3. Verification: How did you prove your choice?
Use station coordinates and radii to verify...
Triangulation Verification: The pre-drawn circles represent the distance from each station based on the log. The point where all three circles intersect is the epicenter. Identify and verify this point.
Tremor Tracker Key Teacher Master Key
Tectonic Tremors Lesson | Answer Guide
Confidential
I. Wave Watcher Worksheet
STATION A (SF):
1. P-Wave: 6 seconds
2. S-Wave: 30 seconds
3. Lag Time: 24 seconds
STATION B (TOKYO):
4. P-Wave: 12 seconds
5. S-Wave: 21 seconds
6. Lag Time: 9 seconds
Part 2 & 3 Answers:
7. Magnitude: 7.0 (100x = 2 steps: 5+2=7).
8. Further Station: Station with 12s lag.
9. Core Reasoning: S-waves only travel through solids. Their absence (shadow zone) proves the outer core is liquid.
II. Quake Coords Activity
Analysis Answers:
1. Furthest: Station B (300 km = 6 units away).
2. EPICENTER: POINT M (8, 8)
Verification Proof:
• Dist. to A: 2 units (100km) - MATCH
• Dist. to B: 6 units (300km) - MATCH
• Dist. to C: 3 units (150km) - MATCH
GED Science Link:
"Triangulation without a compass emphasizes verification of data . Students must systematically check each variable (distance from stations) against a set of constraints to find the single valid solution."
III. Teacher Notes
32x Rule (GED Challenge)
A magnitude increase of 1.0 (e.g. 6.2 to 7.2) means 10x ground motion but 32x more energy release. This energy release is why even small magnitude jumps lead to exponentially more destruction.
Coordinate Tip
If students struggle to measure "diagonals," remind them that Point M is perfectly horizontal to C and vertical to A and B, making the unit counting very simple for this exercise.
Tectonic Tremors Slides Tectonic Tremors
GED Science: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Wave Analysis
GED Presentation
The Dynamic Crust
The Earth's lithosphere is broken into Tectonic Plates that float on semi-liquid rock.
Interaction Types:
Convergence (Colliding)
Divergence (Splitting)
Transform (Sliding)
Convergent Example
Plate A
Plate B
Pressure Builds at the Boundary...
Anatomy of a Quake
The Focus
The starting point INSIDE the Earth.
The Epicenter
The point on the SURFACE above the focus.
Surface
EPICENTER
FOCUS
Seismic Wave Duel
P-Waves
FASTEST
PUSH-PULL
FLUIDS OK
S-Waves
SLOWER
SIDE-TO-SIDE
SOLIDS ONLY
The Seismogram
Ambient Noise
P-Wave Arrival
Lag Interval
S-Wave Arrival
Bigger Lag = Further Distance
Epicenter Triangulation
Data from THREE stations is used. Each radius must intersect at a single point.
1 Station: Radius Only
2 Stations: 2 Possible Points
3 Stations: ONE UNIQUE EPICENTER
A
B
C
Epicenter Located
Richter Scale Intensity
Logarithmic Scale
Each whole number increase represents a 10X INCREASE in ground shaking.
"Magnitude 9 is 1,000 times stronger than Magnitude 6."
(10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000)
8+ Great Quake
6-7 Major Quake
4-5 Moderate
2-3 Minor
Magma & Hot Spots
Subduction
Plates collide, one sinks and melts into magma, then rises as a volcano.
Hot Spots
Magma plumes rising from deep within the mantle (e.g. Hawaii).
The Ring of Fire
A massive seismic chain surrounding the Pacific Ocean.
Wave Watcher Worksheet Wave Watcher
GED Science | Seismic Analysis
Worksheet
Part 1: Seismogram Interpretation
Station A: San Francisco
0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s
1. P Arrival: _______s
2. S Arrival: _______s
3. Lag: _______s
Station B: Tokyo
0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s
4. P Arrival: _______s
5. S Arrival: _______s
6. Lag: _______s
Part 2: Magnitude
7. Quake A is Magnitude 5. Quake B is 100x stronger (ground motion). What is B's magnitude?
____ Magnitude 6.0
____ Magnitude 7.0
____ Magnitude 8.0
Part 3: Concepts
8. Which station recorded the longest lag time, and what does that indicate?
____ Station A; it was further from epicenter
____ Station B; it was closer to epicenter
Part 4: Conclusion
9. S-waves cannot travel through liquids. Their "shadow zone" suggests Earth's outer core is liquid. Explain why scientists came to this conclusion:
Seismic Study Notes Tectonic Tremors
Student Notes | GED Science Unit 4
Name: ________________
1. The Dynamic Crust
Earth's outer layer is the ______________________________. It's divided into ______________________________ plates.
Convergent
Plates move ____________________ each other.
Divergent
Plates move ____________________ from each other.
Transform
Plates ____________________ past each other.
2. Anatomy
Focus: Inside the Earth where energy starts.
Epicenter: Surface directly above the focus.
Sketch Focus and Epicenter
3. Seismic Waves
<table class="w-full border-collapse border border-slate-200 text-[11px]"><tbody><tr class="bg-slate-900 text-white font-black italic uppercase"><td class="p-2 border border-slate-700">Type</td><td class="p-2 border border-slate-700">Speed</td><td class="p-2 border border-slate-700">Mediums</td></tr><tr><td class="p-2 border border-slate-200 bg-slate-50 font-bold">P-Wave</td><td class="p-2 border border-slate-200 text-slate-900 font-bold">_________________</td><td class="p-2 border border-slate-200">Solids/Liquids</td></tr><tr><td class="p-2 border border-slate-200 bg-slate-50 font-bold">S-Wave</td><td class="p-2 border border-slate-200 text-slate-900 font-bold">_________________</td><td class="p-2 border border-slate-200">Only ___________</td></tr></tbody></table>
4. Wave Analysis
"The Greater the Lag, the Further the Quake"
Lag Time = S Arrival - P Arrival
To calculate distance, subtract arrival times.
5. Triangulation
To find the EXACT epicenter, scientists need data from at least ____________ seismic stations.
The epicenter is found at the unique intersection point of three circles.
Triangulation Sketch
6. Richter Scale
Magnitude +1 = 10x more motion.
Practice: Mag 9 vs Mag 6
1. Step Difference: _______
2. Calculation: ____________
A Mag 9 quake is ____________ times stronger than a Mag 6.
7. Volcanoes
Subduction
Boundary: ____________________
Hot Spots
Location: ____________________
Synthesis
How can seismic wave data help city planners design safer buildings?
