Book 12, Question 33
Why Do Buildings Get Special Earthquake Designs?
Engineers design buildings to move instead of break. A building that can sway a little is safer than one that is stiff and brittle, like a tree in the wind. Bending is better than breaking!
More fun facts
- Building codes tell engineers how to design buildings to survive a certain amount of shaking.
- Engineers design structures that absorb the energy of earthquake waves.
- Engineers can also reduce the force that reaches a building in the first place.
- Earthquake engineers work to make roads and buildings safer for major quakes.
- When planning safety, engineers must design the supports of shorter buildings to handle greater forces.
Sources: Scientific American, Exploratorium, U.S. Geological Survey
Questions kids ask
How can a building survive a quake?
Engineers design it to absorb the energy of the waves, or to reduce the force that reaches it.