Survive That Tsunami! Testing Model Villages in Big Waves
Students use a table-top-sized tsunami generator to observe the formation and devastation of a tsunami. They see how a tsunami moves across the ocean and what happens when it reaches the continental shelf. Students make villages of model houses and buildings to test how different material types are impacted by the huge waves. They further discuss how engineers design buildings to survive tsunamis. Much of this activity setup is the same as for the Mini-Landscape activity in Lesson 4 of the Natural Disasters unit.
Students learn about tsunamis and their devastationCopyright Geological Survey, http://pubs.usgs.gov/ circ/c1187/images/tsunami.gif.
No one can stop tsunamis from forming since we cannot prevent earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides, but we can devise ways to minimize the impact of these killer waves on human communities. Engineers design and install seismographs, tide gauges, ocean floor pressure sensors and loud sirens. Engineers also design buildings using materials and shapes that are more likely to survive a tsunami. Between high-tech detection systems and smart structures, the impact of a tsunami strike can be lessened dramatically. But, in many areas, dense populations, unreliable local communication, and poor or nonexistent roads remain the biggest obstacles to quick evacuation to safety.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain what causes tsunamis, including movement under the surface of the ocean.
- Communicate that buildings constructed with materials that are heavier are more likely to survive a tsunami, but may be too expensive or not available.
- Describe how engineers cannot prevent tsunamis, but they can design and build buildings so that they are more resistant to tsunamis.