PANGANGAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Lomboy, Calape, Bohol

ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 1

Name: Score:
Year and Section: Date:
Subject: SCIENCE Type of Activity: Activity/Exercises
Activity Title: Find the Epicenter
Learning Target: Locate the epicenter of an earthquake using
the triangulation method.
References: Title: Science 10 Learner’s Materials
Page Numbers: 8 – 10
Procedure:
1. Study the data showing the difference in the arrival time of P-
wave and S-wave on three seismic recording stations.
Time difference Distance of
Computed
in the arrival epicenter
distance on
Recording Station time of P-wave from the
the map
and S-wave station
(cm)
(seconds) (km)
Batangas 44.8 560 4.2
Puerto Princesa 32 400 3
Davao 38.4 480 3.6

2. Compute the distance of the epicenter from each of the stations using
this formula:
d= Td x 100 km
8 seconds

Where:
d = distance (km)
Td = time difference in the arrival time of P-wave and S-
wave (seconds).
This formula is suited because 8 seconds is the interval between
the times of arrival of the P-wave and S-wave at a distance of
100 km.
3. Choose one of the recording stations and measure the
computed distance on the map scale (the scale of the map in
Figure 3 is 1.5 cm: 200 km). Set your compass for that computed
distance.
4. Center your compass on the station you have chosen. Draw a
circle.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the rest of the stations. You should
get three circles that intersect or nearly intersect at a point. This
intersection is the epicenter.
In the previous activity, the hypothetical earthquake happened
locally, that is why we use the formula stated in the procedure.
But, if the earthquake took place at a far greater distance,
seismologists use the distance-time graph similar to the figure
below in determining the location of the epicenter.

Exercises:
Q1. Where is the epicenter of this hypothetical earthquake?
Q2. What difficulty will you encounter if you only have data from
two recording stations?
Q3. What is the distance of the epicenter from the seismic
station?
Q4. What do you think is the importance of determining the
epicenter of an earthquake?
P.S.: BRING DRAWING COMPASS not magnetic
compass, PENCIL & GRAPHING PAPER
TOMORROW. THANKS!