Quake Challenge

In many parts of the world, it is important that buildings be built with earthquakes in mind. Each building must be designed so that the structure is protected during an earthquake. Architects have improved the design of buildings greatly since 1906, when an earthquake destroyed much of San Francisco. In this activity students used marshmallows and toothpicks to build a structure that could withstand a simulated earthquake. Their structures were placed on top of an 8cm x 8cm jello slab which they each had on a plate at their table. They would shake their plate to simulate an earthquake. If their first design did not work, they would try to determine why. Then try again with some improvements. This process enabled students to discover some of the ways a building can be built to withstand an earthquake. The final test was a shake high on the Richter Scale, by the teacher. Most of the designs stood strong. Each design had a different reason why it worked. Every student worked hard in their group. They were successful in their designs, and for those who wanted to brave it, some had a snack when the lab was over. Yes, they ate their structure along with the earthquake.

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