Reduce Earthquake Damage Chapter Notes | Science for Grade 4 PDF Download

Introduction

Earthquakes can make the ground shake and cause things like buildings, trees, or furniture to fall or break. This chapter teaches us why earthquakes cause damage and how we can make buildings and communities safer. By learning about strong designs, safety steps, and how engineers solve problems, we can understand how to protect people and things during an earthquake. Let's explore how shaking happens, how to build stronger structures, and what we can do to stay safe!

Why Earthquakes Cause Damage

Earthquake shaking makes the ground move back and forth or up and down.

• This shaking can cause problems, like:
  • Houses might crack or fall down completely.
  • Furniture, like tables or chairs, can tip over.
  • Shelves with books or toys might fall and make a mess.
• For young kids, we can think of it like this: shaking makes things fall, just like when you shake a table and a toy tower falls over.

Reducing Earthquake Damage

• Building Stronger Structures:
  • Use sturdy bases: A wider or stronger base helps a building stay standing when the ground shakes.
  • Use flexible materials: Buildings made with materials that bend a little, like bamboo, are less likely to break.
  • Anchor things: Attach shelves or heavy objects to walls so they don’t fall during shaking.
• Safety Measures:
  • Drop, Cover, and Hold On: During an earthquake, get under a strong table, cover your head with your arms, and hold onto the table.
  • Stay away from danger: Don’t stand near windows, tall shelves, or heavy things that might fall on you.
• Community Preparedness:
  • Make emergency kits: Keep a bag with food, water, a flashlight, and other important things ready for an earthquake.
  • Practice earthquake drills: Practice what to do during an earthquake so everyone knows how to stay safe.
  • Build safer homes: Use strong materials to make houses that can handle shaking.

Engineering Design to Reduce Damage

• Design Process:
  • Ask: What can we do to make a building safer when the ground shakes?
  • Imagine: Think of ideas, like making a wide base or using strong walls.
  • Plan: Draw or explain your idea for a safe building.
  • Test and Improve: Shake the model on a tray to see if it stays up, then make changes to make it better.
• Examples of Design Challenges:
  • Build a tower with blocks that stays standing when you shake a table.
  • Make a “safe house” model using cardboard or craft sticks that can handle shaking.
  • Design a way to secure a toy shelf so toys don’t fall off during an earthquake.

Real-World Connections

• Earthquake-Prone Areas:
  • Places like California and Japan have many earthquakes.
  • People in these areas use special designs to make homes, schools, and bridges safer.
• Inspiration from Nature:
  • Some building designs copy nature, like how trees bend in the wind without breaking.
  • Flexible buildings can sway during an earthquake and stay strong.
• Helping Communities:
  • Engineers and builders work together to make safer homes, schools, and bridges.
  • Their work helps protect people during earthquakes.