Teaching Guide: Inge Lehmann: Danish Seismologist

NOV 13, 2019

Students will learn about the life and work of geophysicist Inge Lehmann, and the behavior of seismic waves through earth’s layers.

AIP History

Portrait of Inge Lehmann Photo by Elfelt, American Geophysical Union (AGU), courtesy AIP Emilio Segre Visual Archives

Students will learn about the life and work of geophysicist Inge Lehmann. They will learn about her discovery of the existence of Earth’s solid inner core, as well as how P (longitudinal) and S (transverse) seismic waves (the behavior of which prompted Lehmann’s theory) travel through the earth’s layers.
Grade level(s): 9-12
Guide subjects: Earth Science, History, Physics
Minority Group(s): Women
In-class time: 60-90 minutes
Prep time: 15-20 minutes
Technology Requirements: Student web access required, Audio/Video optional
Common Core Standards: Speaking & Listening, History/Social Studies, Science & Technical Subjects
Next Generation Science Standards: Earth and Space Sciences, Earth’s Place in the Universe, Physical sciences, Waves and Their Application in Technologies for Information Transfer

Downloads

Teaching Guide: Inge Lehmann: Danish Seismologist Lesson Plan (.pdf) Lehmann’s Obituary from the Royal Astronomical Society (.pdf) Teaching Guide: Inge Lehmann: Danish Seismologist Discussion Questions (.pdf) Teaching Guide: Inge Lehmann: Danish Seismologist Discussion Question Answer Key (.pdf) Teaching Guide: Inge Lehmann: Danish Seismologist Original Documents ZIP Archive (.zip)