Purpose: Does the magnitude of an earthquake affect the amount of damage done to a 
building?

Materials: 

shoebox with smooth bottom and cover
10 sugar cubes
2 bouillon cubes(unwrapped)
pencil with eraser tip
ruler

Procedure: 

1. Turn the empty shoebox with the cover upside down.
2. Find the middle point of the box by measuring the length and dividing by two, and measuring the width and dividing by two. Draw straight lines across the length and width of the box. (See diagram)
3. Label with an x where the lines intersect. (This is the middle point)
4. Label two points A and B by measuring equal distances from the middle of the box along the length line. (See  Diagram)
5  Build two building models out of sugar cubes only. Use 5 sugar cubes per building.
6. Place each building on points A and B.
7. Take your pencil with eraser tip end and tap lightly 20 times,tap medium 20 times, and tap hard 20 times. Record your results to show when building models fall.
8. Rebuild and repeat Step 7 three times.

Draw Conclusions:

1. Was any damage done to building models after a mild earthquake simulation?  A medium earthquake simulation? A strong earthhquake simulation?
2.  What can this experiment prove to you about the magnitude of earthquakes, and the kind of damage that different magnitudes cause? Explain your answer.

Purpose: 

Would  heavy objects placed at the top or bottom of a building affect the amount of damage done during an earthquake?

Materials: 

Same as Activity I

Procedure: 

Steps 1.- 4. ( Same as Activity I)
5. Build two building models A and B out of 4 sugar cubes and 1 bouillon cube.
Building A-Place bouillon cube at the top.
Building B- Place bouillon cube at the bottom.
(Bouillon cubes are heavier than sugar cubes . Bouillon cubes represent objects placed in a building)
6. Place building model A on point A of box and model B on point B.
7.and 8. Same as Activity I

Draw Conclusions:

1. Was any damage done to building models A or B  after a mild earthquake simulation ? A medium earthquake? A strong earthquake?
2. Did the weight (bouillon cube) placed at the top of the model have anything to do with the damage done?
3. Did the weight ( bouillon cube) placed at the bottom of the model have anything to do with the damage done?
4. Predict which type of building you think will collapse first during an earthquake  ( Model A or B).
         A. weight at top       B. weight at bottom
Explain your answer.