Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe

Chapter 19: Earthquakes

Problem of the Week

Walls of Water: Tsunamis

Each problem, 1 and 2, can be computed using the following formula:

  • Distance x speed = time
#1: X km x 7 km/s (speed of p-waves) = X seconds or

#2: X km x 700 km/hr (speed of tsunami) = X hours

For the p-wave/time calculations, seconds will have to be converted to minutes and or hours.

The following formulas, with conversion factors, can be used for those calculations.

X sec x 1min/60 sec = X min. and/or X min x 1 hr/60 min = X hours

Then, assuming that warning to the people of the coastal areas can be given, the students can debate what enough time is.

For current USGS earthquake information, including P-wave Travel Times, check out the USGS site: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/activity/world.html. (Very cool information site.)

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) site, http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/tsunami/cascadia.html, gives an excellent introduction to tsunamis and has many links to further information.

The PBS site in the student section is a good reference on tsunami characteristics.

Glencoe Online Learning CenterScience HomeProduct InfoSite MapContact Us

The McGraw-Hill CompaniesGlencoe