Group No.

:___________________ Grade & Sec:_________________ Date:_____________ Ratings:___________

Activity No. 1
“Find the Center”
Objective: At the end of this activity, students should be able to locate the epicenter of an earthquake using triangulation method.
Materials:
Hypothetical records of earthquake waves Philippine Map Drawing compass and ruler
Procedure:
1. Study the data showing the difference in the arrival time of P- wave and S- wave on three seismic recording stations.
Time difference in the arrival Distance of Computed
Recording Station time of P- wave and S- wave epicenter from the distance on the
(seconds) station (km) map (cm)
1. Batangas 32 400 km 3 cm
2. Puerto Princesa 42
3. Davao 26.4

2. Compute the distance of the epicenter form each

of the stations using this formula:

Td
d= x 100 km
8 seconds

Where: d= distance (km)

Td= time difference in the arrival time of
P- wave and S-wave (seconds)

Td
Batangas  d = x 100 km
8 seconds
32 s
d= x 100 km
8s
d = 4 x 100 km
d = 400 km

3. Choose one of the recording stations and

measure the computed distance on the map
scale (the scale of the map in the figure is
1.5 cm: 200 km). Set your compass for that
computed distance.

Batangas (computed distance on the map)

1.5. cm: 200 km = x: 400 km

200 km x = (1.5 cm)(400 km)

200 km x = 600 km cm
200 km 200 km
x = 3 cm

4. Center your compass on the station you have chosen. Draw a circle.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the rest of the stations. You should get three circles that intersect or nearly intersect at a point.
This intersection is the epicenter.
Guide Questions:
Q1. Where is the epicenter of this hypothetical earthquake?
Q2. What difficulty will you encounter if you only have data from two recording stations?
In the previous activity, the hypothetical earthquake happened locally, that is why we use the formula stated in the
procedure. But, if the earthquake took place at a far greater distance, seismologists use the distance-time graph
similar to the figure below in determining the location of the epicenter.

The distance- time graph above shows that the S-P interval is about 10 minutes.

Q3. What is the distance of the epicenter from the seismic station?

Q4. What do you think is the importance of determining the epicenter of an earthquake?

Conclusion:
NAME: __________________________________________ GRADE & SECTION: ______________________

In the previous activity, the hypothetical earthquake happened locally, that is why we use the formula stated in the procedure. But, if the
earthquake took place at a far greater distance, seismologists use the distance-time graph similar to the figure below in determining the
location of the epicenter.

The distance- time graph above shows that the S-P interval is about 10 minutes.

Q3. What is the distance of the epicenter from the seismic station?
Q4. What do you think is the importance of determining the epicenter of an earthquake?
Conclusion:

NAME: __________________________________________ GRADE & SECTION: ______________________

In the previous activity, the hypothetical earthquake happened locally, that is why we use the formula stated in the procedure. But, if the
earthquake took place at a far greater distance, seismologists use the distance-time graph similar to the figure below in determining the
location of the epicenter.

The distance- time graph above shows that the S-P interval is about 10 minutes.

Q3. What is the distance of the epicenter from the seismic station?
Q4. What do you think is the importance of determining the epicenter of an earthquake?
Conclusion: