Name

Grade & Section

ACTIVITY 3.1: FIND THE CENTER

(Adopted from the DEpEd Science Learner’s Material 10)
I. Materials:
Philippine map, drawing compass, hypothetical records of earthquake waves.
II. Procedure:
1. Study the data showing the difference in the arrival time of P-wave and S-wave on three recording
stations.

Recording Station Time Difference (Td) in Distance of Epicenter Distance of Epicenter

the Arrival Time of P- from the station in from the station in
wave and S-wave kilometer (km) centimeter (cm)
(Second)

Batangas 36.8 s

Puerto Princesa 35.2 s

Davao 48.0 s

2. Compute the distance in km of the epicenter from each of the stations using the formula below:
d = (𝑇𝑑/8 seconds) x 100 where: d = distance ; Td = time difference in the arrival time of P-wave
and S- wave. (note: this formula is suited because 8 seconds is the interval between the arrival time of P-
wave and S-wave at a distance of 100 km.
3. Compute the distance in cm of the epicenter from each of the stations using the formula below:
d = distance in km /100 cm
4. Choose one of the recording stations and measure the computed distance in cm on the map (map scale:
1cm =100 km). Set your compass for that computed distance.
5. Center your compass on the station you have chosen and draw a circle.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the two remaining stations. You should have three circles that intersect or
nearly intersect at a point. This intersection is the earthquake’s epicenter.
7. Questions:
a. Where is the epicenter of the earthquake?
b. Will you be able to locate the epicenter of the earthquake if there are only 1 or 2 recording
stations? Explain your answer.