Natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis have always evoked fear and wonder in the human race. Ancient humans believed natural disasters were caused by the anger of the gods; today we know the real reasons behind them, but they are no less terrifying or powerful. Studying them is a great way to get children interested in the natural world and show them how the elements work together. The best way to illustrate how things like tsunamis work is to conduct an experiment showing the causes and effects.
Landslides
Obtain an empty aquarium, two pieces of plastic or plexiglass and a small bag of aquarium gravel or sand. Insert both pieces of plastic so they slope from either end of the aquarium to the bottom of the aquarium, with a flat place between the ends of the plastic. Glue the pieces in place. Fill the aquarium with water until all but two inches of the plastic pieces are submerged. Choose one slope to be the source of the tsunami and gently pour the sand or gravel down this slope. This should create a wave that builds and crashes on the other slope.
Earthquakes
Create an ocean in an aquarium as in the "Landslides" section. Set the aquarium on a flat, sturdy table and obtain a mallet. Choose one end of the aquarium to be the source end and hit the table next to this end firmly with the mallet. Waves should flow from the source end to the other end of the aquarium. Experiment with the force of your hits, with hitting the table from the bottom and with hitting the table on the long sides of the aquarium. Place a toy boat in the water to increase visibility.
Effects on Buildings
Build an ocean in an aquarium as in the above sections. Choose several materials, such as wood, wax and metal to create buildings. Make three or four buildings from each material in different shapes like circles, squares and triangles. Secure the buildings made from one material at a time to the slope receiving the tsunami with clay. Create a tsunami with a landslide or an earthquake. Record how the tsunami affects the different shapes and materials and which ones you think would withstand a tsunami the best.
Tags: aquarium with, different shapes, hitting table, ocean aquarium, pieces plastic, tsunami with, with hitting
