Eartquakes Essays - Seismology, Earthquake Engineering, Free Essays

Eartquakes Essays - Seismology, Earthquake Engineering, Free Essays Eartquakes Earthquakes: Why They Occur And How To Prepare For Them An earthquake is one of the most powerful natural disasters known to man. Earthquakes are so powerful that they can knock down buildings and bridges as well as change river routes and cause landslides. With all the damage earthquakes cause the only way to protect oneself from them is to be prepared and well educated about them. Since they cannot be predicted one must always be prepared for them. Strict building codes in earthquake prone areas also help to minimize the property damage caused during an earthquake. Earthquakes throughout history have caused several millions of deaths as well as severe property damage. Earthquakes are more complex than one may think they are. Earthquakes most often occur near plate boundaries because that is where the tectonic plates meet. As tectonic plates slide past each other they cause tension on one another. After a while there is so much tension on these rocks that they just snap. The sudden break of these rocks send vibrations out in all directions. Soon after the first vibration is sent out a second vibration is sent out called the After shock. Humans can also cause earthquakes in many ways. Injecting fluids into deep well for waste disposal, filling reservoirs with water, and firing underground nuclear test blast, In limited circumstances lead to earthquakes. All these activities increase the strain within the rock near the location of the activities. So that rocks slip and slide along preexisting faults(Microsoft Encarta 2000). Earthquakes can cause a lot of damage. They are strongest near the epicenter. The epicenter is directly above the point that the earths crust snaps. The farther from the epicenter the weaker the vibrations of the earthquake are. That means the area close to the epicenter are going to receive more damage and areas farther from the epicenter are going to receive less damage. As well as distances from the epicenter the type of area an earthquake occurs in has effect on how much damage is caused. Under developed countries seem to suffer much more damage than a developed country. Underdeveloped countries have less strict building codes and are not prepared for natural disaster as well as developed countries are. In underdeveloped countries earthquakes cause much more deaths also. After earthquakes conditions often lead to widespread disease outbreaks. Damage to hospitals, water supply lines, sewage lines, and lack of housing all contribute to the widespread of disease. Developed countries have the same problems but thier strict building codes, emergency forces, and preparedness seem to minimize the damage and death caused by earthquakes. No matter if a person lives in developed or underdeveloped country earthquakes still cause damage. A tsunami is probably the effect of an earthquake. A tsunami is a group of giant sea waves that get bigger and bigger as they get closer to the coast that usually strike without warning. As these giant sea waves come crashing down on the coast they cause servere flooding that drowns a lot of people instantly and cause a lot of property damage. Along with flooding from tsunamis rivers are often rerouted during major earthquakes and flood whole town. After most major earthquakes there are fires. The worst part of fires after an earthquake is that usually broken gas mains cause the fires. If the gas mains are broken usually the water mains are also broken so firefighters have a hard time finding water to put out the fires. Another effect of an earthquake is landslides. Landslides are very dangerous if they occur because most of the time anything in the path of a landslide is destroyed. Earthquakes are very dangerous for a few reasons. First of all they cannot be predicted and second they cannot be stopped. If an earthquake occurs all that can be done is wait it out. That is why everyone must be prepared for an earthquake. The first item that must be learned about an earthquake is that they can occur at any time and any place. Two procedures that must be done in order to prepare for an earthquake is make an earthquake kit and prepare ones home for an earthquake. The basic earthquake kit should include food

Top 10 New and Unique Teacher Gift Ideas Revealed

Top 10 New and Unique Teacher Gift Ideas Revealed Buying for teachers can be hard. A gift card is usually the best choice because lets face it, everyone loves a gift card. But this year, if you want to think outside of the box and get something totally new and unexpected for a teacher, then we have some new and unique ideas for you. Whether you are a teacher looking to buy for another teacher, a superintendent looking to buy for your school staff, or a parent looking to buy for your childs teacher, you will find something special and unique in this gift guide. This teacher gift guide is split into two sections: one for school staff that is looking for new ideas to buy for their fellow teachers, and one for parents looking to buy for their childs teachers. You will find that there is something for everyone, as well as at different price points. Administrators Buying for Teachers Here the top five classroom items that are on most teachers wishlist. You will find items as low as $30 and as much as $375. 1. FlexiSpot Sit-Stand Desktop Workstation Standup desks are an amazing new tech tool that educators everywhere would love to have. They allow easy transition between sitting and standing and are perfect for teachers who spend a lot of time on their feet. They are also great for teachers who love to use PowerPoint Presentations or a SmartBoard in their classroom. Simply place the FlexiSpot on top of your existing desk and you are ready to teach. 2. Table Storage and Charging Base Now that many classrooms are fitted with a classroom set of iPads or tablets, teachers need somewhere to charge and store them. Table storage and charging base (which can run between $30-$150) is a great classroom gift because it can hold up to six tablets with or without their protective cases. 3. High Speed Label Printer Teachers label everything from student desks and folders. You can purchase a good high-speed label printer. If you are going to get one, a wireless, portable printer is the way to go. 4. Document Camera A document camera is a great tool for teachers they are particularly handy for science activities that require students to look at things from all different angles. Parents Buying for Teachers The average parent is said to spend between $25-$75 on their childs teacher for each occasion (teacher appreciation, holiday, end-of-the-year). Here are five new and unique teacher gift ideas that are on many teachers wishlist. 1. Apple TV   Apple TV has become the new must-have for classroom teachers. Educators love them because they can be used to mirror their iPad screen (much like a Smart Board).  You can use the Apple TV display student work, watch movies, and even Skype with peers around the globe. 2. Personalized Letter Probably the best gift that you can give a teacher is a heartfelt letter showing him/her your appreciation for a job well done. This thoughtful gift can really be the stepping stone that the teacher needs to advance in their career (when you send a copy to the principal). The letter doesnt have to be long, just a few sentences talking about how much you appreciate them can go a long way. By sending a copy to the principal, you are adding a positive recommendation to their file. This recommendation can be just the thing a teacher needs to help them advance in their job. Heres an example to help inspire you:   Im writing to you to express my appreciation for a job well done. My daughter has had anxiety in the past  and was quite nervous about starting school this year, that was until she met you. You have made a tremendous impact on my daughter thus far. 3. Headphone Splitter At only $12 a pop, you can give teachers a gift that they will actually use in their classroom. The Belkin Rockstar headphone splitter allows teachers to plug in multiple headphones into one iPad or tablet, which is great for listening centers. As many as six students at a time can now plug their headphones into one outlet at the learning center. This cheap and practical gift is a great tool for the classroom. 4. iPad Projector Instead of spending money on an impersonal on a gift card, you can purchase an iPad projector for less than a hundred dollars. Running in at a just under $70 (via Amazon) a mini portable LCD projector is easy to cart to and from school, and teachers can use it for personal use as well. 5. Stay and Play Balance Ball Alternative seating is quite popular in todays classrooms. However, many teachers do not have them just yet. For around $20 per balance ball, you can help turn the teachers classroom into a ball of fun. These seats (which are essentially an exercise ball with feet) make learning so much fun.