Build a Seismograph
Build a Seismograph https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/make-a-seismograph Days: 2 Mode: Pairs Take-home: Working seismograph
Teaching & key ideas
Key concepts: Inertia, relative motion, recording, amplitude.
Hook: Hold a hanging mass while moving its frame to show relative motion.
Test / evidence: Produce distinguishable traces for gentle vs strong shaking.
Variables to change: Mass; string length; pen pressure; shake amplitude.
Lesson flow
Lesson plan:
Day 1: build
Day 2: create/test traces
Video:
How to Make a Seismograph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41RzGwZINOk
Safety / cleanup:
Use washable markers; secure hanging masses.