Earthquakes…Model of Three Faults (Adapted from the USGS Learning Web)
Grade Level: 7-12
Duration: 1 or 2 class periods
An earthquake is a sudden motion or shaking of the Earth caused by the abrupt release of slowly accumulating
strain. The Earth’s tectonic plates shift past, over and under one another, sometimes getting “stuck” along
their boundaries, then suddenly breaking free.
The different types of plate movement (past, over and under) occur at different types of faults. Build this
model to learn about the types of faults and to see the way the land would change with types of movement
along these faults.
What you need:
Crayons or colored pencils
Scissors
Tape or glue
Metric ruler
Construction paper or Xerox paper
Fault Model Sheet (included)
What you do:
Part 1: Make a Normal Fault
1. Construct a fault model using the Fault Model Sheet
a. Color the fault model that is included according to the color key provided
b. Paste or glue the fault model onto a piece of construction paper (optional)
c. Cut out the fault model and fold each side down to form a box with the drawn features on top
d. Tape or glue the corners together. This box is a three dimensional model of the top layers of the
Earth’s crust.
e. The dashed lines on your model represent a fault. Carefully cut along the dashed lines. You will
end up with two pieces. You may wish to tape or glue a piece of construction paper on the side of
the two fault blocks along the fault face. This will help with the demonstration.
2. Develop a model of a normal fault
Locate points A and B on your model. Move point B so that it is next to Point A. Observe your model
from the side (its cross-section). Draw the normal fault as represented by the model you have just
built. Label the drawing as a normal fault. *Use the same colors as you used on the sides of the model
Questions
1. Which way did point B move relative to point A?
2. What happened to rock layers X, Y and Z?
3. Are the rock layers still lined up?
4. What likely happened to the river? The road? The railroad tracks?
5. Is this type of fault caused by tension, compression or shearing?
Part II: Make a Thrust Fault
Locate points C and D on your model. Move Point C next to point D. Observe the cross-section of your
model. Draw the thrust fault as represented by the model you have just built.
Questions
1. Which way did point D move relative to point C?
2. What happened to rock layers X, Y and Z?
3. Are the rock layers still continuous?
4. What likely happened to the river? The road? The railroad tracks?
5. Is this type of fault caused by tension, compression or shearing?
Part III: Make a Strike-Slip Fault
Locate points F and G on your model. Move the pieces of the model so that point F is next to point G.
Draw an overhead view of the surface as it looks after movement along the fault.
Questions:
1. If you were standing at point F and looking across the fault, which way did the block on the
opposite side move?
2. What happened to rock layers X, Y, and Z?
3. Are the rock layers still continuous?
4. What likely happened to the river? The road? The railroad tracks?
5. If the scale used in this model is 1 mm = 2 m, how many meters did the earth move when the
strike-slip fault caused point F to move alongside to point G? (Note that this scale would make an
unlikely size for the railroad track!) If there were a sudden horizontal shift of this magnitude it
would be about five time the shift that occurred in the 1906 San Andreas fault as a result of the San
Francisco earthquake.
6. Is this type of fault caused by tension, compression or shearing?
