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Transferring Energy

On the previous Sci-ber text page, you learned that earthquakes and volcanoes transfer energy from inside Earth to the surface. Now we need to consider how this energy is transferred from the interior of Earth to the surface. Earth's interior has a great amount of heat energy.

During a volcano eruption, the heat energy is transfered through lava to the surface of Earth. The magma may come up to the surface as magma bringing heat energy to the surface. The volcanoes which erupt on the island of Hawaii are an example of this transfer of heat energy. Notice the lava is very hot as it comes onto the surface. In a short time, the lava begins to cool. As the heat escapes, the lava hardens to dark black rock.
Magma which becomes trapped below the surface can build up pressure that must be released as mechanical energy. An example of this release of mechanical energy was the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens in Washington State. As the heat energy in the lava built up below the surface of the mountain, it caused a large pressure to develop. As this pressure released, it blew off the top of the mountain.

The transfer of earthquake energy happens in the form of waves. These waves can happen in a couple of different ways. You can demonstrate the transfer of energy through waves.

Materials:

  • Slinky®
  • Two people

Procedure:

  1. Hold the Slinky® as level as possible.
    • Have one person gently shake the Slinky® up and down.
    • Observe how the energy moves from the person doing the shaking to the other person who is holding onto the Slinky®.
    • Observe a QuickTime video of this type of a wave (click the back button of your browser to return to this page.)
  2. Now hold the Slinky® level on the floor.
    • One person swings the Slinky® gently from side to side.
    • Observe how the energy moves from the person swinging the Slinky® to the person who is just holding the Slinky®.
    • Observe a QuickTime video of this type of a wave (click the back button of your browser to return to this page.)
  3. Again hold the Slinky® level on the floor.
    • One person pulls back about ten Slinky® rings toward them.
    • While holding onto the very end of the Slinky®, let go of the Slinky® rings.
    • Observe how the energy moves from the person pulling and letting go of ten Slinky® rings to the person who is just holding the Slinky®.
    • Observe a QuickTime video of this type of a wave (click the back button of your browser to return to this page.)

Safety concerns: As with all science lab activities, the most important safety rule is to follow all teacher directions.

 

Analysis:

  1. In what ways is the transfer of energy similar for volcanoes and earthquakes?
  2. How would you describe the three types of earthquake waves?
  3. Which type of earthquake wave seems to have the greatest ability to cause problems on Earth's surface?

Review science lab safety rules here.

Get the plug-ins: Get Adobe Acrobat Reader , and Get Quicktime Player (The QuickTime plug-in is needed to play sounds and movies correctly.)

Want to share photos of you or your friends doing this activity? Send it in an e-mail with the following information: the title of the activity, the URL (Internet address), and your name. Remember that no pictures can be used which show any student faces or has a student name on it.

Updated August 13, 2005 by: Glen Westbroek

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