Thursday 24 March 2011

Tsunami model simulation edit 3!

 EDIT 3
Driving in to work this morning I thought 'hang on John you're missing a trick here!' 'Why not get some cross links going with resistant materials/craft construction (technology) and build a model simulator!? I had in my mind the great meander simulator in my mind created by @tonycassidy and thought why not make a large scale version of the 'Bang goes the theory BBC tsunami model simulator built by Gem in the workshop' Make it large enough so that you can trace the waves for say 4-5 seconds in the model. I want it to create a stick slip fault using plastic under tension and then release off a catch. Naturally I dont want the plastic once slipped to break the surface of the water and divert waves generated in different directions as the crust in an earthquake out to sea wouldnt break the surface. Therefore it is going to have to be deep. The basin for the model I'd like to make out of perspex so that we can see under the water surf ace the scouring effect on the ocean floor. Going to fill it with sand at the slope end of the basin near the coast. This will let us see the effects on the beach at the coast once the tsunami wave reaches it. Then I want to trace the wave with students filming it from different angles from a cross section perspective, birds-eye view over head perspective then a panning view and from different angles watching the wave extend out over land.
Perhaps have objects in the way once out of the basin and see how far the waters power extends to cause damage.
Now to go and chat to the technology department and see what they think!

 

J Sayers

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E: sayers@branksome.org.uk
 

1 comment:

  1. Love this approach, will be using it with my year 10 science students when we discuss geohazards

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