Measuring Earthquake Strength
Science · Volcanoes & Earthquakes · conceptual
Know that scientists measure earthquakes using seismometers, that earthquakes release energy that travels as waves through the ground, and that a magnitude scale describes their strength
What mastery looks like
- Explain that a seismometer is an instrument that detects and records ground shaking
- Describe earthquake energy as waves that travel outward from where rocks broke
- Interpret a magnitude number as a measure of an earthquake's strength
Check your understanding
If Measuring Earthquake Strength heard a news report about a magnitude 6 earthquake, could they explain what a seismometer is, that earthquakes send waves through the ground, and that higher numbers mean stronger quakes?
Prerequisites
Required first
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