Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Locating Earthquake Epicenters

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How to find the epicenter of an earthquake.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Living Lab: Epicenters and Magnitudes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn how engineers characterize earthquakes through seismic data. Acting as engineers, they use real-world seismograph data to locate earthquake epicenters via triangulation and determine earthquake magnitudes.
Handout
Michigan Technological University

Michigan Tech: Locating an Earthquake's Epicenter

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives directions on how to find the epicenter of an earthquake, the distance to the epicenter and the magnitude of the earthquake.
Interactive
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Walk Run: Locating an Earthquake Using Triangulation

For Students 9th - 10th
Roll over the seismic stations to see earthquake epicenters triangulated. Touch buttons to watch movies of seismic waves.
Unit Plan
University of California

Earthguide: Mystery Detectives: Mystery Epicenter: Earthquake

For Students 6th - 8th
Students analyze seismograms to locate mystery earthquake epicenters as they produce a news story about a major local earthquake to complete their mission.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Locating an Earthquake Using a Global Seismic Network

For Students 9th - 10th
When an earthquake happens, how are scientists able to determine the original location of the quake? In this project, you'll use archived data from a global network of seismometers to find out for yourself. You will make your own...
Interactive
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Pacific Northwest Earthquake Locations: Flash

For Students 9th - 10th
The Pacific Northwest is host to three kinds of earthquakes revealed in this interactive.
Handout
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: How Are Earthquakes Located?

For Students 9th - 10th
This illustrated fact sheet shows how S and P waves each travel at varying speeds and therefore arrive at seismic stations at different times.
Lesson Plan
Purdue University

Purdue University: An S and P Wave Travel Time Simulation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A classroom simulation modeling how earthquake waves travel through Earth at different speeds. A graph is constructed to demonstrate the relationship between the distance and time of travel of seismic waves, and then used to locate the...
Handout
University of California

U. Of California Berkeley: Can You Read a Quake?

For Students 9th - 10th
Eight seismograms and instructions are provided to assist in the learning of how to locate the epicenter of an earthquake.
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Earthquake on the Playground

For Students 9th - 10th
In this experiment, students go outside and create a simulation of P and S waves traveling across a 30-meter span. This is repeated using a 30-meter square. They experiment with P and S wave behavior, record results, and use...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Living Lab: P Waves, S Waves and More

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn what causes earthquakes, how we measure and locate them, and their effects and consequences.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: An Earthquake Lab for Physical Geology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This article from the Journal of Geological Education describes an activity in which students locate the epicenter of several earthquakes, plot the trends of the two faults involved, and determine the sense of motion along the plane of...
Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Virtual Earthquake

For Students 9th - 10th
An activity-based program designed to introduce the concepts of how an earthquake epicenter is located and how the Richter magnitude of an earthquake is determined.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: The 2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using real seismic recordings from a number of seismic stations, students find the location of the epicenter of the 2004 Sumatra earthquake. They next determine the path of the tsunami triggered by it, and calculate how much lead time...
Handout
California Institute of Technology

Cal Tech: The Great 1857 Fort Tejon Earthquake

For Students 9th - 10th
Basic information about the 1857 "Fort Tejon" Earthquake, along with comparison to other quakes, location of the epicenter, and faults involved.
Website
Other

Vibrationdata: Alaska Earthquake 1964

For Students 9th - 10th
Time, date, and size of the Alaskan 1964 earthquake. Photos of the damage caused by the quake and the tsunami, location of the epicenter, and a description of the landslides.
Handout
Michigan Technological University

How Do I Read a Seismogram?

For Students 9th - 10th
When you look at a seismogram, there will be wiggly lines all across it. So which wiggles are the earthquake? This site answers this question.