To check what type of soil type is best to build on in earthquake-prone areas, an experiment can be carried out involving a shake table and various types of soil, including clay, bedrock, sand, gravel and different mixtures. A test building is then placed on top of the different types of soil, and its movement after the shake table is turned on is then recorded by a video camera. The results should show that hard soils, such as bedrock, are the best surface to build on since they are more compacted and cause the building to sway less.
This next experiment takes into consideration the different types of building materials used in construction and how earthquake proof they can be. As above, a shake table is required as are different types of construction, such as wooden, brick and steel structures. These latter structures can be simulated by using household objects. For a wooden structure, Popsicle sticks, clay and Styrofoam can be used whereas for brick, sugar cubes, peanut butter and frosting should be used. For the steel structures, students should construct model buildings out of pipe cleaners, T-pins and Styrofoam. The structures are then placed on the shake table, and their performance is then recorded.
Teachers should provide students with a range of materials, such as cards, paperclips, wooden sticks and tape so they can construct their own houses to any design that they want. The teacher should not reveal that an earthquake will happen later on. After the houses have been finished, the teacher then simulates an earthquake by shaking the houses. The damage that is caused is then recorded, and students are allowed to reinforce the houses in order to reduce the damage caused during another earthquake. The experiment is then repeated, and the results are analyzed across the class.
For this experiment a plastic cake tin is required, in addition to plastic wrap and water. Students should cut a 4-inch hole in the bottom of the cake tin and tape the plastic wrap over it so that it is watertight. Next, they should pour the water into the tin and let it settle. Students should then tap the bottom of the wrap and notice the movement of the water. From this they can see how the formation of tsunamis occurs.