![]() ![]() Incorporating giant shock absorbers into a building’s construction and using flexible materials, like structural steel, are also techniques used to resist earthquakes. Base isolation is another building technique that uses springs or bearings to allow the foundation to move under the building. One way to make a building stronger is to use trusses and cross bracing, which make a structure stronger by using triangle shapes. There’s no such thing as an earthquake-proof building, but engineers can figure out ways to reduce the damage and to keep people safe.ĭesigning earthquake-resistant buildings is extremely important in areas where earthquakes are common, like California and Japan. Earthquakes can happen anywhere on Earth, but they are most likely to occur where two tectonic plates meet.Įngineers work hard to design and build earthquake-resistant buildings. These enormous slabs of rock, called tectonic plates, can interact in three ways: they can spread apart, collide, or slide against each other. Today, we know that Earth’s surface is made of many plates that move very slowly-only an inch or two each year. In ancient times, people had many stories and myths that tried to explain earthquakes. You may need to adjust the tension of the rubber bands to achieve the best results. Test the simulator by pulling on one end of the platform and releasing it.Pull the rubber band from the platform through the hole and tie it off or secure it to the side of the box with tape. Poke a hole near a corner of the box, level with the platform.Repeat with the other corners of the platform. Place one end of a rubber band through the hole to make a loop, then feed the other end of the rubber band through the loop to form a knot. ![]() Poke a hole in one corner of the platform.Leave about an inch of space between the platform and each edge of the box. Trim the lid of the box to create a platform that rests on the marbles.They should be able to roll around freely. Place a handful of marbles in the shoebox.To build your own simulator, complete the following: You may choose to have several earthquake simulators made in advance, or you can let participants build their own-or, if you are doing this in a museum, they may already have a shake table in their exhibit gallery. Build an earthquake simulator to test the structures. ![]()
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