🌍 Earth Systems Study Center
📳 Earthquake Simulator
Shake things up and learn how quakes work and how we measure them.
⚡ Earthquake Simulator ⚡
Experience the power of seismic waves and learn earthquake science!
Seismic Wave Simulator
Click “Trigger Earthquake” to see how different seismic waves travel!
P-waves: Fastest, compress and expand
S-waves: Slower, side-to-side motion
Surface waves: Slowest, most damage
Key Concepts:
- Focus: The point underground where the earthquake starts
- Epicenter: The point on Earth’s surface directly above the focus
- P-waves (Primary): Travel through solids and liquids, arrive first
- S-waves (Secondary): Only travel through solids, arrive second
- Surface waves: Travel along Earth’s surface, cause most damage
Triangulation Challenge
Use data from three stations to find the earthquake’s epicenter!
A
B
C
★
Station Data
P-waves arrive first, S-waves arrive later. The time difference tells us the distance!
Station A
–:–
Time Difference
Station B
–:–
Time Difference
Station C
–:–
Time Difference
Earthquake Magnitude Scale
Explore the Richter scale and earthquake effects!
5.0
1-3
Minor
Minor
4-5
Light
Light
5-6
Moderate
Moderate
6-7
Strong
Strong
7+
Major
Major
1.0 – 2.9
Micro: Not felt by people. Detected only by seismographs.
3.0 – 3.9
Minor: Felt by some people. No damage to buildings.
4.0 – 4.9
Light: Felt by most people. Windows rattle, dishes disturbed.
5.0 – 5.9
Moderate: Everyone feels it. Some damage to weak structures.
6.0 – 6.9
Strong: Damage to buildings. Items fall from shelves.
7.0+
Major/Great: Serious damage. Buildings collapse. Ground cracks.
Earthquake Safety
Learn what to do before, during, and after an earthquake!
🏠
Indoors
🌳
Outdoors
🚗
In a Car
Drop, Cover, and Hold On!
1
DROP to your hands and knees immediately
2
COVER your head and neck under a sturdy desk or table
3
HOLD ON to your shelter and be ready to move with it
❌ Do NOT:
- Run outside during shaking
- Stand in doorways
- Try to move or rescue others during shaking