Make a simple seismograph Follow FizzicsEd 150 Science Experiments: Comments 0 You will need: A plastic or paper plate A cardboard roll (like from toilet paper or paper towel, if you can’t find these a rolled-up piece of paper will do) A ping pong ball (or some other light ball that you can balance on top of the cardboard roll – you can even try making a ball from aluminium foil) Sticky tape or masking tape Copyright Instruction 1 Use the sticky tape to stick the roll to the centre of the plate so that the roll stands upright when you place the plate on a table. 2 Balance the ball on top of the cardboard roll. 3 Hit the table either using the palm of your hand or an object such as a shoe or book. (Do not do on a glass/fragile table!). Could you make the ball fall off? Did you notice that the ball fell towards the direction that you hit the table? Troubleshooting If the ball doesn’t drop: Use a thinner roll, you can just roll up paper. Hit the table harder (don’t break anything!) If the ball falls in the wrong direction: If the ball falls in the wrong direction it is likely that your table has cross-braces built into its frame, changing the way the table vibrates. Use a different table and try again! 4 Go further – buy 8 x student activity sheets as extension worksheets. This student science booklet has been created by experienced science educators from the Fizzics Education team. Use these student worksheets as blackline masters for your science class! See all student sheets here 5 Get the Unit of Work on Geology here! The Earth’s layers, the rock cycle, volcanoes, earthquakes & more! From soil science to mineral testing, these hands-on experiments your students will discover the importance of natural resources and the role of plate tectonics in shaping our world. Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more 6 School science visits since 2004! – Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions. – Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from. – Designed by experienced educators. – Over 2 million students reached. – Face to face incursions & online programs available. – Early learning centre visits too! 7 Online courses for teachers & parents – Help students learn how science really works What is going on? This design is similar to an ancient Chinese seismograph built in 132AD in that it does not tell you the size of the earthquake but rather the direction it is coming from. The ancient Chinese seismograph featured eighth dragons around a bronze urn and each dragon faced either N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE or SW. When an earthquake occurred a metal ball in the dragon’s mouth would drop into the mouth of a frog below. Indicating the direction that the earthquake had come from. So, if the north most dragon dropped its ball, then the earthquake came from the north. Variables to test Try different size balls Try different size tubes to balance the balls on Try different directions to hit the show on the table Can you replicate this by running the experiment on the ground? More on variables here Classroom activity sheets for this experiment Create, reflect & extend! Learn more! Natural hazards & disasters Years 1 to 6 Maximum 30 students School workshop (NSW & VIC) 60 or 90 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now Geology Rocks! Years 7 to 10 Maximum 30 students Science Workshop (NSW & VIC only) 60 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now Be Amazing! How to teach science, the way primary kids love. $29.95 inc. GST View Details Add to Cart Trustpilot
Use the sticky tape to stick the roll to the centre of the plate so that the roll stands upright when you place the plate on a table.
Hit the table either using the palm of your hand or an object such as a shoe or book. (Do not do on a glass/fragile table!). Could you make the ball fall off? Did you notice that the ball fell towards the direction that you hit the table? Troubleshooting If the ball doesn’t drop: Use a thinner roll, you can just roll up paper. Hit the table harder (don’t break anything!) If the ball falls in the wrong direction: If the ball falls in the wrong direction it is likely that your table has cross-braces built into its frame, changing the way the table vibrates. Use a different table and try again!
Go further – buy 8 x student activity sheets as extension worksheets. This student science booklet has been created by experienced science educators from the Fizzics Education team. Use these student worksheets as blackline masters for your science class! See all student sheets here
Get the Unit of Work on Geology here! The Earth’s layers, the rock cycle, volcanoes, earthquakes & more! From soil science to mineral testing, these hands-on experiments your students will discover the importance of natural resources and the role of plate tectonics in shaping our world. Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more
School science visits since 2004! – Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions. – Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from. – Designed by experienced educators. – Over 2 million students reached. – Face to face incursions & online programs available. – Early learning centre visits too!
Natural hazards & disasters Years 1 to 6 Maximum 30 students School workshop (NSW & VIC) 60 or 90 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
Geology Rocks! Years 7 to 10 Maximum 30 students Science Workshop (NSW & VIC only) 60 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now
Years 7 to 10 Maximum 30 students Science Workshop (NSW & VIC only) 60 minutes Online Class Available
Be Amazing! How to teach science, the way primary kids love. $29.95 inc. GST View Details Add to Cart Trustpilot
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
Thank you for looking to subscribing to our newsletter 🙂 Through this service you’ll be first to know about the newest free experiments, science news and special offers. PLUS: Get a free Kitchen Chemistry Booklet with >20 experiments, how to use variables plus a handy template!
Please fill out the details below and an email will be sent to you. Once you get that just click on the link to confirm your subscription and you're all done!