College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
8A70.85 - Earthquake Model
See also 8A70.85 in Chemistry and Physics of Everyday Experience.
Attach springs to the blocks as shown. Also attach the weights to the crossbar block. These keep the block straight and level on the table when the demo is being pulled. Slowly pull the model across the table using the gear reduction. Observe the uneven and jerky motion of the individual blocks even though the crossbar block is moving at a constant velocity across the table.
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- Calla Cofield, "Hydrodyamic Forces to Blame for Glacial Earthquakes?", APS News, Vol. 23, #4, Apr. 2014, p. 1.
- Bathroom Readers' Institute, "Earthquake!", Uncle John's Bathroom Reader for Kids - Did You Know?, p. 160.
- Rick Beyer, "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", The Greatest Stories Never Told, p. 8.
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- Janice VanCleave, "34. Quick", Earth Science for Every Kid, p. 78.
- Janice VanCleave, "33. Slower", Earth Science for Every Kid, p. 76.
- Curt Suplee, "Reflection and Refraction", Everyday Science Explained, National Geographic, p. 60 - 61.
- "Earthquake Records", Guiness Book of World Records, 2003, p. 68.
Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.