Houses vs. Earthquakes

1. Houses vs. Earthquakes Jasmine Barrow, Eli Moraru, Nadia Bangura, Jericho Desalegn/ Period 1

2. Problem/Purpose • How do different man-made or natural structures react to earthquakes?

3. Research • Research shows that the more flexible a structure is it will with stand an earthquake longer. For example Haiti is building more earthquake resistant buildings with more flexible materials. Over recent years many countries are changing how they make earthquake prone structures so there is less damage done. They also discovered that if you give windows space to shake so it will not break as easily. Scientist discovered that if a structure can sway it will be less likely to fall. The research helped our group make our hypothesis which is that the play-dough will last the longest because it is more flexible than our other materials.

4. Hypothesis, Independent Variable, and Dependent Variable • The materials in the experiment are plastic Jell-O cups, cardboard and play-dough. The most flexible material will last the longest based on the research. If we change the materials of the structure then the more flexible which is the play-dough so the play-dough will last the longest. Our hypothesis is that the play-dough will last the longest. • Independent Variable: The materials used to make the structures are the independent variables. • Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is how long the structure will stay standing up.

5. Materials • Shake table • Cardboard • 8 tooth picks • 2 empty jello cups • Elmer's glue • Paper • Pen/Pencil

6. Procedures • Assemble shake table • Collect materials to make structures • Create structures • Place structure on shake table • Shake the shake table • Record times • Repeat for 3 trials • Do same for the other structures

7. Data Table

8. Citation • http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2007/01/rocking-the-house-3/ • http://quake.abag.ca.gov/housing • http://www.npr.org/2011/01/14/132904427/in-hatis-rebuilding-calls-for-stronger-structures • http://sciencemuseum.org.uk/attena/building/building/enviorment/index.asp

9. Analysis (Bar graph) shakes

10. Analysis

11. Conclusion, Part 1 If we change the materials of the structures, then the more flexible structure will hold up the longest. Our groups hypothesis was supported by the data because it held up the longest with an average of 7 shakes. Some changes we would make to our experiment would be to make the weight of all our structures the same. We would do this because the playdough structure kept on sinking in on the shake table. We would also change the shape of the structures and how they connected. We think if we would’ve made the structures connected better that we would have had different results. Some factors that might have affected our results other than the independent variable could be the weight, the type of materials we used, the shape and how they structures were connected.

12. Conclusion Part Two • The results relate to the real world because the results can be helpful in building real earthquake resistant structures. Now that we know that more flexible structures stay up the longest. Builders should use flexible materials in structures.