Virtual Earthquake Lab: Directions Handout
Read through the information on earthquakes and how to read a seismogram. Define words on your
answer sheet.
At the bottom of page 1 choose “San Francisco area” and click on the Submit Choice box.
Read the information on page 2.
Using the three seismograms, determine the answers and fill them into the Data Table on your answer
sheet.
1. There are three cities listed below the seismogram. Make sure to record the name of the city,
state in each blank on the data table.
2. Determine the S-P interval for each station. You will need to be accurate here! Record your
answer in the box on the computer and your answer on your answer sheet in the data table.
3. Continue on to “Convert S-P Intervals” at the bottom of the page 3 and read the information.
4. Fill in the Epicenter Distance for each station. To do this, go up the vertical axis to the time you
determined, move over to the standard line and move down to read what the horizontal
measurement is. Record your answer on the computer and on your data table on the answer
sheet.
5. Select “Find Epicenter”.
a) If “Excellent work” comes up, then continue
b) If “Very close” comes up, then choose “Remeasure S-P interval”
6. Choose Compute Richter Magnitude. Continue reading through the pages.
7. Fill in the Max S wave for each station on the computer and in the data table.
8. Select “Submit to Nomogram.” 9. Determine the magnitude for the earthquake by finding the point on the number line where the
three lines intersect. Record your answer on computer and answer sheet. Click on “Confirm
Magnitude.”
10. Your screen should read “Congratulations. You’ve done a great job.” Fill in your name, CAHS,
check teacher email box and fill in your teachers email. Select “Get Certificate.”
11. Select “Execute Virtual Earthquake.”
12. Choose “Southern California” and complete steps 1-11 on the computer without an answer
sheet.
13. Repeat for “Japan” and then “Mexico”