Iris: Earthquake Machine: Demonstration of the 2 Block Model

A demonstration that models earthquakes in the classroom.

Students work in small groups to use a physical model, the earthquake machine, to examine the occurrence of earthquakes and the inputs and outputs of fault systems.

This activity uses the Earthquake Machine, a mechanical model that illustrates the earthquake cycle, as a tool to investigate the behavior of fault systems.

Animation of the single-block "Earthquake Machine" model shows how "Forces, Faults, and Friction" interact. [0:16]

This demonstration shows that rocks are elastic by squeezing a slit core of solid rock. Energy is stored as potential energy while the rock is squeezed. [1:22]

In this activity, students work collaboratively in small groups to investigate the earthquake cycle using a mechanical model.

See a demonstration of an earthquake slip-stick behavior in the classroom. [6:22]

A live, real-time data global map of all current earthquake activity.

Animation illustrates the buildup and release of strain in locked and slow slip zones. [0:28]

In this experiment, students create a model of an earthquake machine and test it to observe what would happen to a building during an earthquake. A worksheet is provided for recording observations.