Seismographs: Recording Vibrations

Seismographs: Recording Vibrations

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Seismograph

The image to the right is a seismograph. Based on the image how do you think a seismograph machine works to detect earthquakes?

Open Ended

How does a seismograph machine work to detect earthquakes?

Seismograph

An instrument used to measure ground movement, used mainly to monitor volcanoes and record seismic waves from earthquakes.

Seismogram

• The recorded measurements of vibrations.  Used in determining difference in arrival time of P and S waves of an earthquake.

Direction

EQ's come from all different directions. Can a seismograph detect what direction an EQ is coming from?

Poll

Can a seismograph tell us what direction a seismograph is coming from?

• Yes

• No

Direction

• A seismologist collected this seismogram data from an EQ.

• Looking at this data try and determine what direction the EQ came from. (North, South, East West)

Multiple Choice

What direction did the EQ come from?

• North

• South

• East

• West

• There is no way to know from this data

Direction

• A seismograph and seismogram will not record the direction of an EQ

• The data only collects the vibrations

Distance

• Can a seismograph tell how far an EQ may be from the station?

  
  

Poll

Can a seismograph tell us how far an EQ is from the station?

• Yes

• No

Distance

• A seismologist collected these three seismograms from an EQ. Each station was located at a different position from the EQ.

• Looking at the data can you tell which seismograph station the EQ was closest to?

Multiple Choice

Can you tell which seismograph station the EQ was closest to?

• New york

• Seattle

• New Mexico

• There is no way to know from this data

Distance

• The closer to the seismograph the higher the siesmic waves

• The farther the seismograph the shorter the siesmic waves

• Seismographs can help to determine the distance of an EQ.

Force

Can a seismograph help show the magnitude of the EQ?

Poll

Can a seismograph help show the magnitude of an EQ?

• Yes

• No

Force

• A seismologist collected information from two different size earthquakes

• Looking at the two seismograms can you tell which EQ was more powerful?

Multiple Choice

Can you tell which EQ was more powerful?

• Earthquake 1

• Earthquake 2

• There is no way to tell from this data

Force

• The stronger the force of an EQ the higher the seismic waves

• The weaker the force of an EQ the lower the seismic waves

Open Ended

Why is there always more damage to structures that are built close to the source of an EQ than to structures farther away?