SCIENCE
Did the earth move?
The Thomas Hardye School
seismometer has proved
an invaluable tool in the
classroom. Jim Nicholson
and Judith Wardlaw
explain
A
he Thomas hardye school
T
seismometer contributes to the British
Geological survey’s UK school
seismology Project, promoting “real
science with real data”. It records
seismic activity continually, while
sitting in a robust case made by design
and technology staff at the school using 40mm acrylic
sheet donated by a local company.
Far removed from the earthquakes it detects, the
Fitzgerald
seismic movements at Thomas hardye school are so
Em
small that they go unnoticed by human beings. most
students, staff and visitors take little notice as the
Photo:
seismometer silently records data day-in, day-out, but
some have been curious to find out what it does and why thousands of miles from the earthquake, are detected in the magnetic field of the sensing magnets when
it exists. The seismometer has also been the focus of by a very sensitive electro-mechanical system. the earth’s surface moves, generating an “induced
B
school enrichment activities for a science and engineering mechanically, the seismometer frame moves with voltage”. This is an application of Faraday’s law of
club and a link with a sTem (science, technology, the earth’s crust, while a sensing coil, attached to the electromagnetic induction.
engineering and maths) ambassador from industry. end of the boom arm, remains stationary, thanks to a The seismic movements we observe at the
since its installation in summer 2008, the combination of the near frictionless pivots and the large seismometer, result from waves travelling through the
seismometer has recorded a number of earthquakes, inertial mass. body of the earth and on its surface. “Body” waves
principally located on the rim of the Pacific ocean near Two fundamental physical principles are illustrated often arrive at the seismometer in two stages. The
Japan. This region is where part of the earth’s crust (the here. First, the sensing magnets are fixed to the inertial aptly named Primary waves arrive first, followed by
Pacific Tectonic Plate) is descending into the deeper mass and effectively remain stationary when the frame slower secondary waves. secondary waves are “shear”
reaches of the earth’s mantle, causing earthquakes moves. This is an application of Newton’s first law of waves, which can only travel in rigid solids, finding an
during erratic phases of movement. motion, concerning inertia. second, the sensing copper impenetrable boundary at the earth’s liquid core.
Very small movements of the earth’s crust, many coil (which is fixed to the seismometer’s frame) moves a third wave type travelling slower than secondary
waves are the surface waves. These waves move in
Union address: ASCL
a similar manner to waves on the surface of the sea.
It is not only earthquakes that are detected by the
seismometer; after careful analysis, we appear to have
detected seismic movement due to tidal effects, and not
Boycotts are not the answer
least, the movement of students around the building!
C
The first seismogram (pictured top) was extracted
from the raw data using amaseis software, Version 2.2.
Dr John
the performance of the school and the nation as a It shows the Primary, secondary and surface waves
whole. resulting from a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurring Making waves: Seismogram A (top) from
Dunford says
This leads to schools of very different types near the north island of Japan on July 19, 2008. Japan on July 19, 2008; seismogram B
and intakes being compared against one another in Fortunately for us (but not for those affected in Japan), (middle) from Tonga on March 19, 2009, and
league tables. It is this that creates high pressure and we were just in time. This event occurred shortly after seismogram C (bottom) of the recent 6.3
the recent move
high stakes testing, which causes year 6 teachers to the seismometer was installed. magnitude earthquake to strike central Italy
concentrate almost entirely on maths and english. The second seismogram (pictured middle) shows (L’Aquila). Jim Nicholson recently received
by two other education
We would like to see key stage 2 tests amended a two-hour record of seismic movement recorded at the STEM Ambassador Support and
and supplemented by a system that more accurately Thomas hardye school. It shows two distinct phases, Development Award 2009 from Baroness
unions to agree to hold
assesses individual pupil progress and provides a Primary and surface waves, arising from a magnitude Morgan at the House of Lords (main
fair and credible way of holding primary schools to 7.9 earthquake occurring near the south Pacific island picture) for the work he has done with
ballots for a boycott of
account, as well as forming a reliable baseline for of Tonga on march 19, 2009. The absence of a Thomas Hardye School on the seismometer
secondary school accountability. secondary “shear wave” phase suggests they have been and other projects. The Thomas Hardye
single-level tests, which have been piloted in the affected by the earth’s liquid core. School seismometer is also pictured
key stage 2 SATs is not
last few years, certainly do not do this and should a two-hour recording from the earthquake that struck
be scrapped. central Italy on april 6 this year is illustrated in the third Geological survey hopes that the UK school seismology
the way forward
We believe the way forward is for a new seismogram (pictured bottom). Due to the relatively project will enthuse a generation of students to study
assessment system for 11-year-olds based on a short distances involved, the Primary, secondary and science in general and geosciences in particular. earth
bank of tests to be drawn down by the school, surface waves arrived in close succession. sciences, while featuring in both science and geography
The NUT and NahT unions have both agreed to allied to rigorous teacher assessment, with dipstick By using the excitement generated in schools as lessons, sometimes fall between very congested courses
hold ballots for a boycott of key stage 2 tests. I moderation to ensure consistency and credibility for a “hook” to capture students’ attention, the British and curricula.
sympathise with colleagues in primary schools who accountability and value-added purposes. The data received has brought the fragility of the
are fed up with the current key stage 2 assessment Diagnostic assessment would provide the basis earth’s crust home to a relatively geologically stable
system and I understand their frustration, especially for a personalised learning plan to ensure continuity corner of the world.
since the tests at 14 were abolished last year. of learning across the transition to secondary school. Tom hearing, a 6th form student, got involved after
But I worry that the path they have chosen This would be the core measure of individual pupil applying for a Nuffield science Bursary in the general
will make it less likely, rather than more, that the progress. area of geology and being advised by the science
government will agree to put an end to external To judge how the school system as a whole is department to join the seismometer project.
testing for 11-year-olds this year, especially in the progressing, there would be a programme of national he said: “Until this time I was only vaguely aware
light of the recent report of the expert group on sampling, instead of the present national saturation. of a medium-sized box sitting on the floor of the
assessment. For more than 10 years, we have argued for an school’s reception area with a seismograph on a screen
Key stage 2 test scores may not be the perfect end to key stage 3 tests, putting forward well-tried above it. I have always had an interest in geology,
measure of accountability and we fully agree that a and reasoned evidence showing why they were archaeology and palaeontology, though really only
better way is needed of assessing achievement at 11 ineffective, and offering ministers alternative models scratching the surface.
than high stakes external tests alone. of accountability. In october 2008 this persistence “I enjoy this type of project as it involves handling
however, simply doing away with the exams in paid off. real data and looking at fresh information. There appear
their current form is not the answer. There has to There is now a window of real opportunity to to be a few patterns emerging from the information,
be an element of accountability for primary school reform assessment at key stage 2. The secretary of (with less localised scatter on the graph during school
performance in exactly the same way that secondary state has said publicly that the tests are not set in holidays!); so far I only fully understand very few.
schools accept that they are held to account for the stone and the government is rightly worried about a handling real data really does make any study, however
GCse results for their pupils at 16. repeat of the debacle that was the 2008 tests. basic, exciting for all those involved.” SecEd
one of the main arguments put forward for This is the best possible time to talk about
boycotting the tests is the harmful effect they have reforming key stage 2 assessment. my worry is that • Jim Nicholson is a STEM ambassador from QinetiQ
on teachers and pupils in year 6, as a balanced boycott action may actually harden attitudes and and Judith Wardlaw is industry partnership development
curriculum goes out of the window in favour of make it less likely that assessment at age 11 will be manager at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester.
“teaching to the test” for most of the year. reformed.
I believe that has much more to do with the school
Further information
accountability system than the tests themselves. • Dr John Dunford is general secretary of the Geological survey’s UK school seismology Project:
The problem comes when the same test is used Association of School and College Leaders. Visit www.bgs.ac.uk/schoolseismology/
to assess not only individual pupil progress, but www.ascl.org.uk sTem ambassadors: www.stemnet.org.uk/
ambassadors.cfm
12 SecEd • May 14 2009
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