NAT J080 (GENERAL SCIENCE)

Name: Aiyana Mishalka Mendoza. Laboratory Report (30 pts.)

Grade & Section: 8-C
Teacher: Karizamae Marquez
Date: November 15 2023
Group No.: 4

Experiment No.2

Simulating and Investigating Earthquake Waves

I. Objectives
At the end of this experiment, the students must be able to:

✔ Differentiate earthquake waves in terms of their characteristics and motion.

✔ Explain how the model structure can stand the stress of an earthquake

II. Problem :
How does an earthquake occur? And how does it work? Why do buildings
collapse easily from earthquakes? Can it affect taller buildings more than short
buildings?

III. Hypothesis
In a 1-story building with low intensity, it took more than 30 seconds before the
building could collapse. Whilst in a 3-story building with more than 30 seconds,
the building finally became shaken up and affected by the shaking of the ground,
causing the building to tilt and eventually crumble.

IV. Materials

Slinky 1 piece of a disposable aluminum pan

10-12 ft. length of rope 1 pack of gelatin powder
20 pcs toothpicks 1 short folder
20 pcs marshmallows

V. Procedure

Earthquake Waves

1. Create compression waves by sharply pushing on one end of the Slinky then release.
Observe what happens.

2. Have a student hold one end of the Slinky extended along the lab table. Produce
waves
along the Slinky so that compressions travel toward the student. Observe the
movement

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 of the waves produced.

3. Take a rope, and ask another student to hold the other rope firmly. Make a series of
up-and-down waves.

Earthquake simulation

1. Prepare the gelatin as directed in the package and pour it out into 2 small aluminum
pans. Let it harden overnight. ( To be prepared the day before )
2. Using toothpicks and marshmallows, make structures simulating a building. Make
large or small cubes or triangles by using whole or broken toothpicks.
3. Use a small folder to make a structure for the building
4. Place the model structures on the pan of gelatin.
5. Shake the pan from the bottom to simulate primary waves and shake the pan from
side to side to simulate secondary waves. Record your observations.

VI. Illustration

Earthquake waves Earthquake Simulation

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 VII. Data and Results

Fill in the data table with the difference between earthquake waves.

Type of Wave Characteristics based on the experiment The direction of Motion in terms
of the movement

1. Primary Waves (P Fastest waves

wave) The motion to the wave is parallel
to the direction

2. Secondary Waves (S Slower than P waves the motion to this wave is

wave) perpendicular to the direction of
wave travel

VIII. Question and Analysis

1. If an earthquake occurred near the place where you live, would P waves or S
waves arrive at your location first? Explain.

It would be P waves instead of S waves because P waves travel the fastest

so they would arrive first

2. What was the cause and the extent of the damage of the earthquake? Relate
your observations.

The ground shaking may cause landslides and tsunamis, damage

structures like shelters and buildings, and hurt people.

since the tectonic plates are under the ocean too so it may or may not
cause tsunamis and cause a large amount of water to overflow to the land
surface

the moving of Tectonic also causes buildings to crack and collapse due to
the building wanting to stay at rest (inertia) causing the shearing of the
structure which concentrates on the weak walls and joints of the building
resulting in collapsing

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 3. What do earthquake waves have in common with other waves? Give
examples.
Other waves such as sound waves and ocean waves, have in common with
earthquake waves like they all move their energy through a field. a wave is
usually associated with the movement of energy in the medium

IX. Conclusion

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