OU LoginEarthquakes affect Californians often enough that it is worth your while to take this short course so that you know something more about them. Even if you never experience one personally, you may know someone who might need your help, and you must vote on earthquake-related issues - where to build schools, whether to fund seismic retrofits on bridges, etc. This exercise will help you understand a bit more about how earthquake epicenters are located and how magnitude is determined. Be sure to begin this exercise from a computer that has access to a printer!
Your assignment is to visit the following site: Virtual Earthquake; execute Virtual Earthquake (execution link is at the BOTTOM of that page, NOT the "NEW: completely revised version" near the top; don't worry, you won't cause an earthquake!), and work your way through the problems presented there. If you have trouble with the general procedure, perhaps you will gain insight by reading through this site, and by viewing a great Shockwave animation! After you have successfully completed the Virtual Earthquake tasks, the site will present you with the opportunity to generate a Certificate officially declaring you an Amateur Seismologist! EMAIL or PRINT this certificate (with YOUR name on it) and turn it in to me by the date/time indicated on our class page in order to receive credit. If you have questions, you should e-mail me about them - I will get back to you as soon as possible! You will receive 10 points for turning in this certificate (equivalent to one quiz); I will return it to you immediately, so that you can go home and frame it!
*If by chance you need more information, you might benefit from reading through the Earthquake primer, Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country.