Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology
Ciese: Musical Plates: Engineering Application: Keeping Afloat
A instructional activity that looks at how to design a building so that it will withstand an earthquake and not sink or lean over.
Scientific American
Scientific American: Earthquake Proof Engineering for Skyscrapers
Learners construct a shake table, then build towers of different heights using Lego blocks, and test their stability on this platform. Next, they test towers with different sized bases, and towers made using different materials.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Earthquake in the Classroom
Students will learn how engineers construct buildings to withstand damage from earthquakes by building their own structure with toothpicks and marshmallows. Students will test how earthquake-proof their buildings are by testing them on...
University of Wisconsin
Scien Count Ers: Earthquake Proof Buildings
This instructional activity looks at how the forces of an earthquake impact on buildings, and different ways to make buildings earthquake-proof. Includes student worksheet and tectonic plates map.
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology
Ciese: Musical Plates: Designing an Earthquake Resistant Structure
A lesson where students look at how the sudden movement in an earthquake causes a building to collapse, and how to design a building that can withstand it.