Science Fair Project Ideas - Earthquakes

Earthquake is a term used to describe both sudden slip on a fault and the resulting ground shaking and radiated seismic energy caused by the slip, or by volcanic or magmatic activity, or other sudden stress changes in the earth. It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. One hundred thousand of those can be felt and 100 of them cause damage.

Project Ideas:

1. Draw the fault line from one of the major earthquakes. Why did the earthquake happen there? What is the surrounding area like?
2. What is used to measure an earthquake? What used to be used?
3. Explain plate tectonics.
4. Build a working model of an earthquake.
5. How many different types of faults are there? What are their differences?

Link Resources to Complete the Science Fair Project

1. Earthquake Prediction Links
2. Earthquake Lists and Maps
3. This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics
4. Photo Gallery: Earthquakes

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Part of our Science Project Ideas Index