ShareRocks & Minerals - Make Your Own Earthquake
On the previous Sci-ber text page, you learned that earthquakes bring energy from Earth's interior to the surface. Now you have the opportunity to model how these earthquake waves move energy. If you do this correctly, you might be able to "eat" your model!
Materials:
- 8" x 8" pan
- Two six-ounce Jell-o® gelatin (green is fun to use)
- Spoon
- Measuring cup
- Plastic wrap
- Knife
Procedure:
- Heat two and one half cups of water to boiling.
- Stir in both gelatin mixes.
- Pour the liquid gelatin into the pan.
- Refrigerate the pan until the gelatin becomes firm.
- Lay down a piece of plastic wrap onto the counter.
- Cut the plastic wrap in half ... keep both edges touching at this point.
- Gently warm the bottom of the pan until you can slide out the gelatin from inside of it.
- Slide the gelatin out of the pan and onto the plastic wrap.
- Try to keep half of the gelatin on each side of the plastic wrap cut.
- Now cut the gelatin in half to match the cut in the plastic wrap.
- You are going to slide the gelatin halves past each other. The cut between these two halves represents a "fault."
- Watch as your "fault" builds up energy that is released in the gelatin earthquake!
Safety concerns: 
Be sure to follow all chemical safety rules that are specified by your teacher in all general
laboratory experiences. As with all science lab activities, the most important
safety rule is to follow all teacher directions.
Analysis:
- What happened when the gelatin pieces were being slid past each other?
- Which locations in your model demonstrated an earthquake better than others?
- How was this activity similar to a real earthquake?
