Earthquake Tower
It's HUGE! This model is 8-1/2 inches wide (corner to corner) and a whopping 54 inches tall! It is 39
inches tall if you don't include the antennas.
Tall buildings built in earthquake-prone areas are designed with a special type of structural frame that
allows them to flex and absorb energy from earthquakes and other forces of nature. Without these
highly engineered designs, the forces put on the building by an earthquake would cause the building to
literally be shaken apart, and collapse.
This model illustrates how tall buildings and towers can be free to move by using special joints to
connect alternating floors. This necessary property of skyscrapers helps to balance and mitigate the
forces imparted on them by nature. Earthquakes, wind, and gravity all must be accounted for when
designing a skyscraper or tower. Without the ability of the building to move and adjust to the forces of
nature, tall buildings would crumble and fall too easily, and we wouldn't have them in the world today.
Designed and manufactured in the USA, this tower kit is precision cut by a computer controlled system
from top-quality USA manufactured solid oak non-toxic, formaldehyde-free and void-free
plywood for a dimensionally stable, strong and inexpensive architectural model. It is designed
specifically for school science projects, model hobbyists and all architecture enthusiasts.
Engineers use 'shake-tables' to simulate earthquakes on models of buildings to test how they will react
to the forces of nature. These 'shake-tables' can simulate many different types of earthquakes and can
give the engineers insight into how to make a tall building stronger and safer. with this model, you can
simulate the same effect simply by shifting the base around with your hands and watch the tower sway
and bend, coming back to rest vertically when the motion stops.
It also makes a great addition to any model train display or a spectacular piece of office decor.
