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How to Make a Working Earthquake Model

An earthquake is a naturally occurring phenomenon that results from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust due to elastic collisions at the boundaries of the planet's tectonic plates. While the noticeable shaking of the ground during an earthquake is a well-known feature of the event, the actual mechanics of what is occurring can be difficult to explain to someone who doesn't understand the concept. Fortunately, you can construct a simple model of a tectonic plate boundary that mimics the seismic wave motion of an earthquake with items found at any grocery store.

Things You'll Need

  • Stove
  • Pot
  • Square pan
  • 12 ounces of gelatin mix
  • Spoon
  • Measuring cup
  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Plastic gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Boil an amount of water in your pot as indicated by the instructions on your package of gelatin mix and pour the mix into the pot.

    • 2

      Stir the mix thoroughly until your pot's contents have become viscous and pour it into your pan.

    • 3

      Refrigerate the pan until the gelatin is firm and solid.

    • 4

      Pry the gelatin mold free of the pan with a spoon and set it down on your cutting board.

    • 5

      Cut the gelatin in half with your knife along either its vertical or horizontal axis. Be sure to make the cut as straight as possible.

    • 6

      Put on your plastic gloves and pick up one half of the gelatin mold in each hand.

    • 7

      Slide the two halves of the gelatin in opposite directions along the cut down the middle, while gently pushing them towards each other. The two halves will build up elastic energy as they slide against one another, and when the energy becomes two great to contain, they will snap free of each other, creating a wave motion that will ripple through the entire gelatin mold in a similar fashion as seismic waves in the vicinity of a fault line.

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