What If a Magnitude 20 Earthquake Hits?

In this video, Cosmo discovers what causes earthquakes and from there begins his investigation into tectonic plates, forces at play during an earthquake, and the Richter scale. Students learn about the frequencies of large and small earthquakes on Earth and then discover what would happen if Earth experienced a magnitude 20 earthquake. How much energy is required to trigger a magnitude 20 earthquake? Could a building withstand that much shaking? And how do architects design buildings that remain stable during an earthquake?

Topic: Strong and Stable Structures

Cosmorriculum:

Assess effects of strong and stable structures on society and the environment
Identify the strength of a structure as its ability to support a load
Identify the stability of a structure as its ability to maintain balance and stay fixed in one spot
Identify properties of materials that need to be considered when building structures
Describe ways in which the strength of different materials can be altered
Describe ways to improve a structure’s strength and stability
Describe ways in which different forces can affect the shape, balance, or position of structures

Topic: Forces Causing Movement

Cosmorriculum:

Assess the effects of the action of forces in nature (natural phenomena) on the natural and built environment, and identify ways in which human activities can reduce or enhance this impact
Identify a force as a push or a pull that causes an object to move
Identify different kinds of forces
Explain how forces are exerted through direct contact or through interaction at a distance