Epicenter Hunt

“The Game”

DeMarco Productions Inc.

2006

LEVEL ONE

• Before we can trust YOU to find the epicenter of an Earthquake, we need to make sure you are qualified for the job.

• From the choices below, select the qualification level that best suits you:

I am a geologist for NASA.

I have worked for the GAC for 34 years.

I am in Mrs. Webb’s Geology 12 class.

press

press

press

It is our pleasure to meet you, and have you work with us on

this task.

•The Earthquake was estimated to be a 7 on the Richter scale.•Many people were killed, and the destruction is widespread.•We were able to capture some pictures of the devastation, and we need you to examine them for us.

The Pictures arein this album

LEVEL TWO

• Can you tell us which type of fault must have occurred at this location?

*(It was taken in an orchard near the area of the most severe destruction.)

X Can we really trust you with this job?

LEVEL THREE

Mrs. Webb needs to know what “that spot beneath the epicenter” is called before she can continue getting you information on this Earthquake.

Zone

StrikesFocus

LEVEL FOUR

Okay, we are getting somewhere now. We have some information arriving about the Earthquake. Let’s keep going!

•Dr. Al K. Seltzer would like to know how many locations you would like a report from in order to find your epicenter…. He suggests you request the lowest possible, most efficient #.Please select the # below.

LEVEL FIVE

Some background information that Mrs. Webb thinks will help:

•Primary wave- travels phastest so it arrives at seismic stations phirst.

•Push-pull wave: rock vibrates forward and backward in the same direction that the wave travels ("parallel to propagation"). •Pass through solids and liquids (magma).

Ok, Thanks Mrs. W. I am Ready to move on.

•Secondary wave- arrives at a seismic station second. •Slow wave- not as fast as the P-wave.

•Shake wave (shear wave)- vibrates side-to-side. •Solids wave- only travels through solids.

Ok, Thanks Mrs. W. I am Ready to move on.

It’s a good thing that you just happened to have a copy of your ESRT in your backpack.

NEXT

The P-line shows how much time it takes a P-wave to travel a certain distance. So if you need to know how much time it takes the p-wave to travel 6,000km, it is about 9 minutes and 30 seconds. (about 9:30 ). The S-wave works the same way: for 6,000km it takes 17:00 . ok!

The P-wave and S-wave are separated by 4:05 (4 minutes, 5 seconds). You need to find a spot on the graph where the P-line and the S-line are separated by 4:05 !

•Take a scrap piece of paper, line it up along the left edge of the chart.

•Put a small tick mark on your scrap paper at zero, and a small tick mark at 4:05 .

•Slide the scrap paper up along the chart until it the two tick marks just touch the P and S lines. BE SURE THAT YOUR SCRAP PAPER IS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN (use the lines on the grid as a guide).

•Now that you have found the right spot on the graph, drop a line straight down to the bottom of the graph to read the distance!

•WRITE DOWN YOUR ANSWER SOMEWHERE SAFE!

Got it !

WHEN DID THE EARTHQUAKE HAPPEN?

Find The Time That The Earthquake Occurred !When a seismograph detects an earthquake that happened at some distance, (3,200km for example) you know that the earthquake happened some time in the past and it took time for the waves to reach your station. But how long ago? All you need to do is answer the question “how long does it take a P-wave to travel 3,200km?

EXAMPLE: Find 3,200km on the bottom of the chart. •Go straight up until you reach the P-line and read the time from the left of the chart: 6:00 (6 minutes). •Now compare times: if you detected the earthquake at 3:17:00 and it took 6:00 to reach you, then the earthquake happened 6 minutes before 3:17:00, or 3:11:00

Ok, I did.So when did it happen?

THE FINAL LEVEL!(Pat yourself on the back for

getting this far!)

The only thing left to do is call up the other two seismic stations, and ask them for their information!

Hurry!Click Here

to Call!

Info from the other locations is in, we need to use something to draw perfect circles on our map.

Press the area where the Earthquake must have happened!

THANK YOU!

You helped us find the Epicenter!To show our appreciation for what you have done for our community, we would like to present you with an award. Please choose “continue” to go to the award ceremony. Thank you again.

For credit, you must print out the certificate and hand it to Mrs. Webb Continue

Geological Society of CanadaIs pleased to

announce that

(print your name here)

Has successfully located the epicenter of a major earthquake, and shall have bestowed upon

him/her, the official license of Seismology Expert on this date, ___ /___ /2006.

Tracy A Webb

Official Seismologist

Epicenter Distance from your location:______

Time at which it occurred: _____