Summary Virtual Earthquake is an interactive tutorial that helps students understand how the epicenters of earthquakes are located from seismograms and how their Richter magnitudes are determined. (This is the original "VEQ." A new version using Java applets and JavaScripts is under development.))
Virtual Earthquake is an interactive Web-based program ... designed to introduce you to the concepts of how an earthquake EPICENTER is located and how the RICHTER MAGNITUDE of an earthquake is determined. The Virtual Earthquake computer program is running on a Web Server at California State University at Los Angeles. You can interact with Virtual Earthquake using your Web browser.
Virtual Earthquake will show you the recordings of an earthquake's seismic waves detected by instruments far away from the earthquake. The instrument recording the seismic waves is called a seismograph and the recording is a seismogram. The point of origin of an earthquake is called its focus and the point on the earth's surface directly above the focus is the epicenter. You are to locate the epicenter of an earthquake by making simple measurements on three seismograms that will be sent to you by the Virtual Earthquake program. Additionally, you will be required to determine the Richter Magnitude of that quake from the same recordings. Richter Magnitude is an estimate of the amount of energy released during and earthquake.
Upon completion of this activity you will be given the opportunity to receive a personalized Certificate as a "Virtual Seismologist."
Name:
GARY
NOVAK
Phone:
323-343-2406
Fax:
323-343-2435
Email:
gnovak at calstatela.edu
Contact Address:
Department of Geology
California State University, Los Angeles City:
Los Angeles
Province or State:
CA
Postal Code:
90032-8203
Country:
United States
GARY
NOVAK Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
323-343-2406
Fax:
323-343-2435
Email:
gnovak at calstatela.edu
Contact Address:
Department of Geology
California State University, Los Angeles City:
Los Angeles
Province or State:
CA
Postal Code:
90032-8203
Country:
United States
TYLER
B.
STEVENS Role:
SERF AUTHOR
Phone:
(301) 614-6898
Fax:
301-614-5268
Email:
Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov
Contact Address:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Global Change Master Directory City:
Greenbelt
Province or State:
MD
Postal Code:
20771
Country:
USA
Related URL
Link:
VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
Description:
Virtual Courseware for Science Education has a home page
whereby users can access the online curricular labs available
(Virtual Biology and Virtual Geology) as well as information
about the producers of the information.
Link:
VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
Description:
Geology Labs On-Line is a comprehensive project to develop
Web-based lab activities that enhance the learning and
teaching of Geology at the College and High School AP
levels. These "Virtual" labs are interactive where students
learn by "doing" and not just clicking and viewing.
Currently, there are three activities on-line with an
additional 8 in preparation. The three "virtual" activities
include: Virtual River - Discharge and Flooding, Virtual
Dating - Isochron and Radiocarbon, and Virtual Earthquake.
Several modules are in the design phase and are due to be
released soon. Modules include: Virtual Coast, Virtual
Groundwater, Virtual Landslide, Virtual Plate Tectonics,
Virtual River-Flooding, and Virtual Volcano.
This work is supported in part by grants from the
U.S. National Science Foundation and the California State
University System. All opinions expressed are those of the
authors and not necessarily those of the NSF or the CSU.
Creation and Review Dates
SERF Creation Date:
2000-09-11
SERF Last Revision Date:
2006-08-07
Links
