3.4
Distributionof
VOCABULARY
Epicenter:
the point on
Earth’s surface directly
above the location
(focus) of the
earthquake below the
surface.
ACTIVITY ONE
W
HERE IN THE
W
ORLD
?
RA T I ONA L E
Knowing where earthquakes occur will allow students to formulate
theories about what causes earthquakes and why earthquakes occur
more commonly in particular locations.
F OCU S QU E S T I ON S
Where have earthquakes been known to occur?
Do earthquakes occur randomly, or mainly in specific areas?
OB J E C T I V E S
Students will:
1. Locate and plot the epicenters of earthquakes by latitude and
longitude.
2. Recognize a pattern in the distribution of most earthquakes.
3. Postulate how the occurrence of earthquakes may be related to plate
tectonic activity.
4. Postulate how deep earthquakes may be related to plate tectonic
activity.
Focus (pl. foci):
the point within the
Earth that is the origin of an
earthquake, where stored energy is
first released as wave energy.
Latitude:
the location of a point
north or south of the equator,
expressed in degrees and minutes.
Latitude is shown on a map or globe
as east-west lines parallel to the
equator.
Longitude:
the location of a point
east or west of the prime meridian,
expressed in degrees and minutes.
Longitude is shown on a map or
globe as north-south lines left and
right of the prime meridian, which
passes through Greenwich, England.
MA T E R I A L S
Q
Student copies of Master 3.4a, Earthquakes of the Day, Tables 1-8
(one set of eight, plus extras as needed)
TEACHING CLUES AND CUES
Q
One copy of Master 3.4b, Notable World Earthquakes, 1900-1992
Q
Eight copies of Master 3.4c, World Map (2 pages)
Q
Scissors and transparent tape
Q
Atlases, globes, or geography textbooks with detailed maps
Q
Pencils or pens, both black and red
Q
Four transparencies made from each page of Master 3.4c, World
Map
Do not reduce the map
to one page. The scale
will be too small to be of
use.
A G U
/
F E M A
193
S
E I S M I C
S
L E U T H S
