Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region III
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ZAMBALES
Zone 6, Iba, Zambales
Tel./Fax No. (047) 602 1391
E-mail Address: zambales@deped.gov.ph
Website: www.depedzambales.ph

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

SCIENCE 10

I. Introduction

Philippines is made up of about 7,641 islands. Several

volcanoes are also situated in our country, 22 of which are active.
This is one of the reasons why we frequently experience earthquakes.
Recently, PHIVOLCS recorded two earthquakes in Zambales in the
towns of Castillejos and Palauig with magnitudes of 2.3 and 2.2
respectively. Both earthquakes took place on July 17, 2020. NDRRMC
disseminates information about the earthquake such as its
magnitude, time of occurrence, and epicenter via text messages sent
to the people.

You will use some of your scientific skills such as graphing,

measuring, analyzing and interpreting data, and inferring in this
learning activity sheet.

II. Learning Competency

Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes,

earthquake epicenters, and major mountain belts to Plate Tectonics
Theory

III. Objectives

At the end of this learning activity sheet, you are expected to:
1. differentiate continental and oceanic crust;
2. compute for the distance of the earthquake’s epicenter from a
certain station; and
 3. locate the epicenter of an earthquake using the triangulation
method.

IV. Discussion

Before we proceed, there are important keywords that you will

encounter with our discussion. Let’s start familiarizing on the
keywords by doing the Word Hunt activity. Let’s go!

WORD HUNT

Find and underline the keywords inside the box that are
hidden in the grid. The words may be hidden in any direction. To do
the tasks please have a photo copy of this “Word Hunt” activity for
your answers.

LITHOSPHERE EARTHQUAKE OCEANIC

TRIANGULATION EPICENTER CRUST
CONTINENTAL SEISMIC WAVES TECTONICS
ASTHENOSPHERE

Hope you are able to enjoy the Word Hunt activity. Now, let’s try
to know more. From hunting, you may now explore plate tectonics.

2
PLATE TECTONICS
The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of the Earth, including
the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust. It is the coolest
and most rigid part of the Earth. The lithosphere is underlain by
the asthenosphere which is the soft, weaker, hotter, and deeper part
of the upper mantle.

The crust is the outermost layer of Earth made of minerals and

solid rocks such as the sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous
rocks. The most abundant rocks in the crust are igneous, which are
formed by the cooling of magma.

Earth’s crust is divided into two types: oceanic crust and

continental crust. Oceanic crust, extending 5-10 kilometers beneath
the ocean floor, is mostly composed of different types of basalts.
Oceanic crust is dense, almost 3 g/cm3. Continental crust is mostly
composed of different types of granites. It is thicker (as thick as 70
kilometers), but also slightly less dense (about 2.7 g/cm3) than the
oceanic crust.

SEA
CONTINENTAL
CRUST
OCEANIC
CRUST

UPPER
MANTLE

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Continental_and_o
ceanic_crust.png

Figure 1. Types of Crust

According to the plate tectonics model, the entire lithosphere of
the Earth is broken into numerous segments called plates (see Figure
2). There are seven relatively large plates and a number of smaller
ones, including the Philippine plate. The plates move very slowly but
constantly at about an average rate of between approximately 0.60
cm/year to 10 cm/year. This movement is called tectonics. The theory
of moving lithospheric plates is called plate tectonics.

3
 https://geology.com/plate-tectonics.jpg

Figure 2. Map of Plate Boundaries

Do you know that one of the consequences of moving plates is
the occurrence of earthquake? Surely, you still remember your Grade
8 Science, wherein you have learned that an earthquake releases
seismic waves recorded by seismographs so with the body waves such
as the Primary (P-wave) and Secondary (S-wave) which travel into the
Earth’s interior essential in determining the epicenter of the
earthquake. These waves travel at different velocities. P-wave arrives
first followed by the S-wave. The difference in the arrival time of the
first P-wave and the first S-wave tells us the distance of the
earthquake’s focus from the seismic recording station. However, it
does not tell the direction where it came from. The farther the
recording instrument is from the focus, the greater is the difference in
the arrival of the P-wave and S-wave.

Exploring deeper, we need at least three recording stations that

can tell how far away from them the earthquake occurred so that the
epicenter can be determined using the triangulation method. The said
method uses distance information from three seismic stations to
locate the epicenter. On a map, circles are drawn around each seismic
station. The radii of the circles are scaled to the estimated distance
from the station to the earthquake. The intersection of the three
circles locates the epicenter of the earthquake.

So, the distance of the earthquake’s epicenter happened locally

from seismic stations can be computed using the formula below:
Td
d= X 100 km
8 seconds
Where:
d = the distance of the epicenter from the station (km)
Td = time difference in the arrival time of P-wave and S-wave (seconds)
4
 On the given formula, 8 seconds was used as the denominator
because it is the time interval between the arrival of the P-wave and S-
wave at a distance of 100 km and in order to locate the distance of the
epicenter from a given map, you can use a scale of measurement (e.g.
1.5 cm: 200km)

If the earthquake took place at a far greater distance,

seismologists use the distance-time graph similar to the figure below
in determining the location of the epicenter.

http://stream1.cmatc.cn/pub/comet/Environment/TsunamiWarningSystems/comet/ts
unami/warningsystem/media/graphics/SPwavetraveltimes.jpg
Figure 3. Distance-Time Graph

The distance-time graph above shows that the P-S wave interval
is about 10 minutes. What is the distance of the epicenter from the
seismic station? If your answer is 9000 km, you are correct! Now, did
you enjoy your exploration?

V. Activities
General Guidelines: Write all your answers in an activity
notebook.
A. How Far Away?

Directions: Given the time difference in the arrival time of P-wave

and S-wave, compute for the distance of the earthquake’s
epicenter from the seismic recording station.

1. Sta. Cruz, Zambales : 55.7 seconds

5
 2. Bolinao, Pangasinan : 43.9 seconds
3. Baler, Aurora : 60.5 seconds
4. Abucay, Bataan : 38.4 seconds
5. Santa, Ilocos Sur : 40.8 seconds

B. All About Earth

Directions: Let’s complete the crossword puzzle. Words will be

written according to the given clues below. Please write your
answers in a separate answer sheet.

6
 C. Continental vs. Oceanic Crust

Directions: Compare and contrast the types of crust by a Venn

diagram using the given words or phrases inside the box below the
Venn diagram.

CONTINENTAL CRUST OCEANIC CRUST

- More dense - types of crust

- Solid - part of lithosphere
- Less dense - made of mostly basalt
- Thicker - made of mostly granite
- Thinner - made of rocks

D. Fill Me (Adapted from Science 10 Learner’s Material)

Directions: Study the data showing the difference in the arrival

time of P-wave and S-wave on three seismic recording stations.
Complete the table by computing the distance in kilometers (km) of
the epicenter from each of the stations using the formula in the
discussion. Convert the computed distance in centimeters using
the scale 1.5cm: 200km. Please write your answers in a separate
answer sheet.
Seismic Time difference(Td) Distance of Distance of
Recording in the arrival time epicenter from epicenter from
Stations of P-wave and S- the Station the Station
wave (seconds) (km) (cm)
Batangas 72.53
Puerto Princesa 87.47
Davao 53.33

7
 E. Find the Center (Adapted from Science 10 Learner’s Material)

Directions: Using the data you have in Activity D, locate the epicenter
of an earthquake using the triangulation method on the map provided
on the next page. Use a ruler to measure the distance of the
earthquake from the first station. Be able to center your drawing
compass on the station and draw a circle. The radius of the circle is
the measured distance of the earthquake from the station. Repeat the
steps for the other stations. You should get three circles that intersect
or nearly intersect at a point. This intersection is the epicenter of the
earthquake. To do the tasks please have a photo copy of this “Find the
Center” activity for your answers.

Where is the epicenter of the hypothetical earthquake? _____________________

8
VI. Assessment

Directions: Read and analyze the questions. Write the letter of the
correct answer.

1. It correctly describes the Earth’s lithosphere.

a. thickest at the ocean floor
b. consist of the crust and the upper mantle
c. has the same thickness everywhere
d. hottest and rigid part of the earth
2. Which of the following choices are the two types of crust?
a. Oceanic and continental c. lower and upper
b. Lithosphere and asthenosphere d. mantle and core
3. Described as a soft, weak layer where lithosphere sits on.
a. Lithosphere c. Asthenosphere
b. Mantle d. Atmosphere
4. The usual characteristic of the oceanic crust
a. Denser than the continental crust
b. Less dense than continental crust
c. Thicker than continental crust
d. Same thickness and density as the continental crust
5. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
a. Continental crust is thinner than oceanic crust
b. The thickness of the crust is constant.
c. Oceanic crust is less dense than the continental crust
d. Continental crust is thicker but less dense than oceanic
crust.
6. The expected average rate of change in position of lithospheric
plates
a. A few millimeters per year
b. A few millimeters per century
c. A few centimeters per year
d. A few meters per month
7. The usual term used by the geologists referring to the Earth’s crust
and the upper mantle
a. Asthenosphere c. atmosphere
b. Lithosphere d. mesosphere
8. Which may possibly occur when plates move?
a. Typhoon c. Thunderstorm
b. Earthquake d. Hurricane
9. The type of seismic wave detected first by a seismograph.
a. Surface waves c. P-wave
b. Body waves d. S-wave

9
 10. From the seismogram, the distance of the earthquake from a
certain station can be determined by measuring ________________.
a. the difference in the arrival time of the P and S waves
b. the difference in the velocities of the P and S waves
c. the arrival time of surface wave
d. the speed of the surface wave

11. Possibly determined if you were provided with data of the time
difference in the arrival of P and S waves from three seismic
stations.
a. the intensity of the earthquake
b. the distance of the earthquake
c. the focus of the earthquake
d. the location of the epicenter
12. If they asked you to locate the epicenter of a recent earthquake.
What method should you use?
a. Triangulation method c. circulation method
b. Scientific method d. distribution method
13. How many seismic recording stations do scientists need to
determine the epicenter of an earthquake?
a. One b. two c. three d. four
14. If the time difference in the arrival of P and S waves is 58.64 s,
how far is the earthquake from a certain seismic station?
a. 7.33 km b. 58.64 km c. 586.4 km d. 733 km
15. If they asked you to locate the epicenter of an earthquake,
which is the correct sequence of procedures should you follow?
I. Determine the distance of the epicenter from the station.
II. Use the triangulation method to locate the center.
III. Determine the time difference in the arrival of P and S waves
IV. Obtain data from three different seismic recording stations.
a. IV, III, II, I c. I, II, III, IV
b. IV, III, I, II d. I, II, IV, III

VII. Reflection
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the right word/words from the
box below.

Earth’s (1) _______________ is made up of layers, the (2) ___________

and (3) _____________ . There are two types of crust: the (4) ___________
known to be less dense continental crust and (5) ______________ which is
relatively thinner but (6) ______________ than the continental crust.
The entire lithosphere of the Earth is broken into numerous
segments called (7) _____________. The constant slow movement of these

10
plates is called (8) ____________ and takes an average rate of (9)
____________ per year.
One of the consequences of plate tectonics is (10) _______________.
It releases (11) _______________ which travel at different velocities. Seismic
recording stations use the time interval of arrival of the (12)
______________ and (13) ______________. The (14) _______________ of the
earthquake can be determined by (15) ___________________.

oceanic crust upper mantle S-wave

few centimeters lithosphere P-wave

thicker denser crust

triangulation method earthquake plates

Plate tectonics seismic waves epicenter

epicentre seismic waves Plate tectonics plates

VIII. References
epicenter crust thicker seismic waves

2020. Phivolcs.Dost.Gov.Ph.
https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/vault/html/Seismicity%2
0Maps/2020/Philippines-Seismic-Network-2020-
(December)_.jpg.

"Crossword Puzzle Maker | World Famous From The Teacher's

Corner". 2020. Worksheets.Theteacherscorner.Net.
https://worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/make-your-
own/crossword/crossword.php.

"Earthquake Glossary". 2020. Earthquake.Usgs.Gov.

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossary/?term=epice
nter#:~:text=The%20epicenter%20is%20the%20point,Epic
enter%20%26%20Hypocenter.%20(.

Hebron, Guillerma E. 2020. Unpublished Text

Luna, Hazel F. 2020. Unpublished Text

"Philippines". 2020. En.Wikipedia.Org.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines.

Science Grade 10 Learner’s Material. 2015. Pasig City, Philippines.

Department of Education

11
Society, National. 2020. "Crust". National Geographic Society.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/crust/.

Society, National. 2020. "Lithosphere". National Geographic Society.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/lithosphere/.

Staff, PHIVOLCS. 2020. "Earthquake

Information". Phivolcs.Dost.Gov.Ph.
https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/earthquake/ea
rthquake-information3.

Prepared by:

HAZEL F. LUNA
Teacher III
Castillejos National High School

GUILLERMA E. HEBRON
Teacher II
Castillejos National High School

12
13