California Academy of Science
Earthquake Engineering
Protecting buildings, bridges, and roadways from damage during an earthquake is an important task for engineers. Discover how one lab goes about testing the safety of existing and yet-to-be-built structures with a short video. See some...
Other
Earthquake Resistant Structures vs. Shake Table
A middle school class competition where students build earthquake-proof structures using marshmallows, straws, and thin sticks. These are tested on a shake table to see how long they can withstand a load and increasing levels of...
The Economist
The Economist: How to Make a Building Quake Proof
Explains some different engineering features that can be embedded in buildings to make them earthquake-proof. [2:50]
Other
Baker s.t.e.m. Lab Challenge: Design and Build an Earthquake Proof Structure
Shows students' marshmallow and toothpick structures in beds of Jello being shaken to see if they are earthquake-proof. [2:57]
Other
Nepal Makes Earthquake Proof Homes Made From Pet Bottles
Newscast highlighting a type of earthquake-proof home being made in Nepal after the 2015 earthquake. The homes are built using plastic bottles filled with sand. Date: May 9, 2015 [2:02]
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Build a Better Wall 1: Parts & Construction
A video lecture that introduces a technique that can be used to make buildings earthquake-resistant. The instructor demonstrates and explains how to use simple materials to build a shear wall for a building. [9:15]
Museum of Science
Museum of Science, Boston: Andre Filiatrault Earthquake Engineering
Structural engineer Andre Filiatrault at the University of Buffalo explains what happens when an earthquake occurs and how scientists measure them so they can reproduce them in a controlled setting. They use this information to study...
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Build a Better Wall for Earthquakes
This activity helps students learn how diagonal braces, shear walls, and rigid connections strengthen a structure to carry forces resulting from earthquake shaking. [5:54]
Other
Howcast: How to Demonstrate Engineering Principles
Presents a challenge to students to build a stable, multi-story structure using marshmallows and toothpicks, one that can withstand shaking that simulates an earthquake. [5:49]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Engineering Innovative Seismic Retrofits That Don't Break the Bank
Researchers at the state-of-the-art Structural Engineering and Materials Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology are using a full-scale model building to test new ways to protect structures from earthquakes and potentially save...
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Resonance: Modeling Resonance in Buildings Using Paper Model
A US Geological Survey Seismologist demonstrates a cheap and kid-friendly version of the BOSS model that shows how buildings of different height oscillate during earthquake shaking. [0:50]
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Building Resonance: Boss Model Demonstration
See a model of how a building reacts to an earthquake. [2:44]
Museum of Science
Ei E: A Stick in the Mud: Evaluating a Landscape Lesson 2
Students think like geotechnical engineers as they take core samples of a model building site and decide how deeply the pier foundations for a model skyscraper should be anchored into the soil. [11:40]
Museum of Science
Eie: A Stick in the Mud: Evaluating a Landscape Lesson 2
Students think like geotechnical engineers as they take core samples of a model building site and decide how deeply the pier foundations for a model skyscraper should be anchored into the soil. [17:22]
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Building Resonance: Boss Model Construction & Use
See how a building responds to seismic waves. [2:37]