This machine is used to measure the force of the vibrations caused by an earthquake. It records how powerful these vibrations are on a numbered scale.
They are held in a very solid position, either on the bedrock or on a concrete base. The seismometer itself consists of a frame and a mass that can move relative to it. When the ground shakes, the frame vibrates also, but the mass tends not to move, due to inertia. The difference in movement between the frame and the mass is amplified and recorded electronically.
A network of seismometers is used to calculate the magnitude and source of an earthquake in three dimensions
Seismographs are used to determine:
- Magnitude: the size of the earthquake
- Depth: how deep the earthquake was
- Location: where the earthquake occurred
Picture Credit : Google