PHY 205L M5 Earthquakes Lab Report (1)

Earthquakes Leticia Pollard-Torres 11/24/2023

1 Data Activity 1 Data Table 1 No. of Washe rs Distance Stretched (inches) Observations 8 6.3 The plate had resistance to the pull/some of the washers fell to the right side. 8 6 Sightly resistance to the pull/the top washers stayed on top of the other but had a slightly movement. 8 4.4 Less resistance to the pull/very little observable movement of the washers. 8 4.8 Less resistance to the pull/no movement of the washers. 0 1.7 Almost no resistance to the pull/Washers did not move. 0 0.11 No resistance/ it move quickly, and washer did not move. 0 1.8 The resistance was not significant/no movement of the washers. 0 1.6 Very little resistance to the pull 16 10.10 Strong resistance to the pull. Washers stayed in same spot but the sandpaper on the bottom curled up. 16 8.9 Strong resistance and this time the bottom sandpaper was drag one more inch than the rubber band. 16 8.12 Still lots of resistance to the pull and the bottom sandpaper was drag with the pull of the rubber band. 16 9.12 Once again, the plate did not move and had lots of resistance to the drag and the bottom sandpaper was drag one Activity 1 Questions: 1. What does the sandpaper on sandpaper represent? The sandpaper on sandpaper represents the faults on a tectonic plate. There is friction caused by the pull and push of the movement of the plate. © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

2 2. How did the “plate” move when there were 0 washers on the “plate”? How did the “plate” move after adding the washers? Was there a difference in movement with 8 versus 16 washers added? There was no friction and the “plate” moved without resistance. After adding the washers to the “plate” the friction and resistance was significantly increased than before. It was observed that between the 8 washers versus the 16 washers the resistance was greater with the increasing number of washers. This was to the point that the bottom “plate” was dragged in the pull. 3. What does the distance the rubber band stretched represent? This signifies the amount of force applied on to the “plate” making it move in a different direction. In this case the "plate" observed here is convergent since one plate goes over another causing friction. In the real world, when two plates converge, one plate falls under the other causing trenches, earthquakes, and volcanoes. 4. When the “plate” moved across the sandpaper, was it a smooth or sudden movement? What do you think the movements might represent? When the washers were on the sandpaper, the movement was sudden after the initial pull. Without washers, the movement was smooth. The movement represents the release of energy where earthquakes occur in the fault area. 5. © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company