Outreach:
The TFA RockCorps, a partnership between TFA and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and sponsored by the National Science Foundation, consists of two TFA-affiliated teachers per year. These teachers conduct research for 4-6 weeks at UTA during the summer in the field of experimental geophysics. RockCorps members also work with UTA scientists to develop Geophysics-based thematic curriculum units to teach in their own classrooms. RockCorps participants will receive $4000 stipends, $5000 in scientific equipment to use in their classrooms, and an expense-paid trip to present their work at the annual American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco (Dec 12-16, 2015).
In contrast to the slow motions of Earth’s tectonic plates, many natural processes that pose significant risks for humans (e.g., earthquakes and extraterrestrial impacts), and risks associated with human activities (explosions, mine failures, projectile penetration), occur at rates hundreds to thousands of time faster than typically simulated in (earth science) laboratories. Little experimental data exists to confirm or calibrate theoretical models explaining the connection between these dramatic events and the fragmentation of rocks in fault zones, impact, or explosion sites, thus limiting our understanding of the physics of these processes. We are undertaking a combined experimental and field investigation of brittle rock failure in both earthquake and impact environments. The mechanical behavior of different rock types at fast rates should depend predictably on the microscopic composition and structure of individual minerals within the rocks. If true, this will allow scientists to better predict the consequences of earthquakes based on the rock structure in individual areas and furthermore allow engineers to design more effective structures to withstand the pressures in mining, petroleum and military environments.
About the Project
Dan Garrison ‘10 and Hailey Neubauer ‘14 investigated the fragmentation behavior of Berea Sandstone, similar in structure and composition to rocks deformed during the formation of Upheaval Dome in Utah, a feature related to an extraterrestrial impact. They developed units for their high school classes in Engineering and Physics, and they will present their results, “The Teach for America RockCorps, Year 1: Turning Authentic Research Experiences in Geophysics for STEM Teachers into Modeling Instruction™ in High School Classrooms”, at the 2015 AGU Meeting. See their abstract on the following page.