Earthquake Machine 2—Developing Arguments About Earthquake Occurrence

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This activity uses the Earthquake Machine, a mechanical model that illustrates the earthquake cycle, as a tool to investigate the behavior of fault systems. In the activity groups of students are presented with a claim about earthquakes. Using the Earthquake Machine, students design an investigation to collect data to either refute or support the claim they were presented with. After students have collected evidence they use this information to construct an argument regarding the claim. Next, students present their work to their knowledgeable peers for a skeptical review.

 

Objectives:

Students will be able to...

  • Explain earthquakes as a part of the natural Earth System
  • Describe the global trends for earthquake occurrence and size
  • Critically analyze data generated by the Earthquake Machine and use the data to develop an argument about earthquake occurance
  • Describe the role sharing of science results with peers plays an important part of the science process.
Using the Earthquake Machine as a model, two groups of learners are presented with separate claims about earthquakes. Learners design an investigation to collect data to either refute or support their claim. After collecting evidence, the information is used to construct arguments regarding their claims.
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This video shows how to build the "Earthquake Machine", a physical model that represents the “earthquake cycle”, the slow accumulation of elastic energy in rocks on or adjacent to a fault followed by rapid release of elastic energy during an earthquake.
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