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This activity demonstrates liquefaction, the process by which some soils lose their solidity during an earthquake. Learners will use a loaf pan, sand, water and a brick to model what happens to buildings built on sandy soil during a powerful earthquake. Many buildings in the San Francisco Bay Area are built on landfill, sand, or mud that can liquefy, and as a result much of the damage in California's 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was caused by liquefaction.
- Under 5 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 18
- Activity, Model
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Metal or heavy plastic pan—full-sized loaf pans work fine
- Sand
- Water
- A smooth brick
- A rubber mallet
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Processes
- Earthquakes
-
Earth Processes
-
Physical Sciences
-
States of Matter
- Solids
- Liquids
-
States of Matter
Informal Categories
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, The Exploratorium,
Funding Sources:
- The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
- Jim Clark Endowment for Internet Education