‘Quake machine' teaches Kittatinny students lesson in devastation

NEWTON - Architects designing buildings today consider the real possibility of natural forces inflicting devastation to their structures. At the turn of the century, however, buildings were not designed with these forces in mind, and when earthquakes occurred in places such as San Francisco, entire structures were destroyed. By simulating an earthquake in technology classes, students at Kittatinny Regional High School can quickly see how shear, torsion, compression and tension can affect a seemingly stable structure. Under the direction of technology teacher Stan Winter, students recently constructed individual fire lookout towers using balsa wood that held a two-inch piece of steel, brass and wood on top. They then tested them on an “earthquake machine” in class.