Building Our Own Seismograph

4HR is building seismographs that are affordable, accurate, and sensitive for countries that can't afford fancy computer seismographs. Our first step to collect information that will help us design accurate and sensitive machines.

What is a Seismograph?

Finding out:

Handout

PowerScienceKnowledge

PBS Kids

Simple Seismograph creation

UC Berkeley professor explains

What could be more accurate? What could be more sensitive?

What did we find out about seismographs? What are they made of?
Connects to base ten number system, in that the Richter scale works in powers of ten - Jamie
Steady and stable - Zaaviar
The paper would go around a wheel, with an axle in the middle. - Sarah
Wood plank needs to be smooth. Paper needs to be tight. - Connor
Platform: use cardboard. - Emily
Ink: when the paper keeps on moving, the writing instrument keeps writing. - Mason
The height of the weight and the weight of the weight. If the weight is super heavy, it wouldn't show small movements because it is held down. If it is lighter, it would show the smaller movements. - Sean
Vertical metal rod and steel wire. - Victoria
Platform: use cereal boxes, put something heavy in it. - Carmen
Platform: wood, because you can drill into it. - Amaan
Platform: tile. - Sean
Ball and pencil hung from rod. - Carol
Inverted pendulum seismometer: pencil suspended on a metal rod, adjusted to change the pendulum, so it can be more accurate. When the ground shakes, the pencil shakes, drawing on the paper. Wavelengths converted on the Richter Scale: lines on the paper. - ZY
You need a weight to make it stable. - Miguel
Measures how big the Earth's movement. - Elin
These seismographs connect to pendulums, except they don't move and stay in the same spot. It picks up the vibration of the surface, which causes the pencil or pen to move. - Caimi

Consolidating Our Knowledge of the Rock Cycle

4HR got to experience the rock cycle last week in the Science Lab. This week we are going to review our learning and share it out! Use one (or more) of the resources below. Then pick one way to share your learning.

BrainPop Rock Cycle video

PowerScienceKnowledge

World Book


Options to show your learning

Share a rock cycle demonstration (ideas at PowerScienceKnowledge)

Take the BrainPop quiz (and email Ms. Heather your results)

Make a BrainPop idea map (and take a screenshot and add it your Google Drive)

Resources to Answer Our Questions

From learning about Earth layers, we have become curious about how the Earth began. We understand that scientists only have theories (no one was around when the Earth began).




Here is a resource about how plate tectonics began.

Volcanoes in Snow?

Yesterday, scientists aboard a research ship witnessed Big Ben, a volcano in Antarctica, erupting. 4HR discussed the following:

-Are volcanoes linked to hot weather? How can there be a volcano in the snow?

-What comes out of the volcano? It looks like steam or ash.

Watch the video here to see and learn more.