BMUFSD: Eighth Graders Build Earthquake-Resistant Structures

Press release from the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District:

2024-06-11

The Tri-State area recently experienced an earthquake.

At Briarcliff Middle School, eighth graders in science class with Jodi Shearer have been simulating earthquakes on their own to test structures that they built to see if they will topple over.

Using only supplies that were provided – coffee stirrers, mounting putty, scissors and a hot glue gun, students designed and built structures that could withstand a mild earthquake simulation.

The structures had to be at least two floors tall and be able to hold a small figurine on an upper floor.

Students began by designing and sketching a plan for the structure, and then built it.

“We will measure mass before we test the structure on the earthquake simulator,” Ms. Shearer said.

Jade and Maya were confident their structure would not topple over.

“The earthquake simulator has sand on the bottom, so the bottom part of the structure will get embedded into the sand, which hopefully will prevent it from falling,” they said. “If all goes well, the sand will get inside the cracks on the bottom.”

They were not sure if their structure could withstand the simulated earthquake if there was no sand.

“It depends on how heavy it would be because it will take more force to bring down something heavier,” they said.

This press release was produced by the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.