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Plate Tectonic Model on Faults
Modèle tectonique des plaques sur les failles, Manual Stress-Simulation Interface Outcome Supports the Synthesis of fault-plane solutions by allowing students to physically replicate the mechanical conditions required for elastic rebound and seismic propagation.
Léger, simple et complet, Impact-Resistant Composite Construction Ensures sustained Instructional Reliability in high-occupancy laboratory environments, significantly reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over multi-year cycles.
$36.10
Quick Answer: The Plate Tectonic Model on Faults is an earth science teaching model that shows how rock breaks and moves along faults. It is used to compare normal, reverse and strike-slip faults and to link each to the kind of stress and plate boundary that produces it.
Three Kinds of Fault in One Topic
A fault is a fracture along which the rocks on either side have moved, and geologists name faults by the direction of that movement. In a normal fault the block above an inclined fault plane, the hanging wall, slides down, which happens when the crust is pulled apart. In a reverse fault the hanging wall is pushed up by compression. In a strike-slip fault the blocks slide sideways past each other with little vertical movement, as along transform boundaries such as the San Andreas Fault.
Fault models help because the movement is three-dimensional and hard to read from a flat diagram. Offset rock layers on the sides of a model show the throw, the vertical displacement, and students can match each structure to the stress that caused it: tension, compression or shear. Models of this kind are often built as blocks that slide along a cut. The listing does not state this model’s construction or exactly which fault types it includes, so check those points before ordering.
Earthquakes are the link to everyday life. Stress builds up across a locked fault until the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy as seismic waves, so understanding fault types helps students interpret news of earthquakes in the Himalaya, Japan or California.
Specifications
| Type | Plate tectonic fault model |
| Structures | Fault plane, hanging wall, footwall, offset layers |
| Fault types usually taught | Normal, reverse, strike-slip |
| Stress link | Tension, compression, shear |
| Construction and fault types included | Confirm at enquiry |
Applications
- Classifying faults by the movement of the hanging wall
- Measuring throw from offset layers
- Linking fault types to divergent, convergent and transform boundaries
- Explaining how earthquakes are generated by sudden slip
Care & Handling
- Slide any moving blocks gently along their guides; forcing them chips edges and misaligns the layers.
- Return the model to its unfaulted position before storing so the next class starts from the same point.
- Keep the model dry and away from heat, and dust it with a soft brush.
Why Choose LabEquip
Geography and geology teachers use fault models to turn a three-dimensional movement into something students can hold and repeat. LabEquip lists this model in General Lab Products with the Interactive Plate Tectonics Model on Folds, which covers the ductile side of rock deformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a hanging wall and a footwall?
On an inclined fault, the hanging wall is the block above the fault plane and the footwall the block below it. The names come from mining, where miners hung lamps on the upper wall and stood on the lower one.
How do I tell a normal fault from a reverse fault?
Look at the hanging wall. If it has moved down relative to the footwall, the fault is normal and formed by stretching. If it has moved up, the fault is reverse and formed by compression.
What is a strike-slip fault?
It is a fault on which the blocks move horizontally past each other, parallel to the fault line. Large strike-slip faults form transform plate boundaries, such as the San Andreas Fault in California.
What is fault throw?
Throw is the vertical displacement of a rock layer across a fault. On the model it can be measured as the height difference between the same layer on either side.
Why do faults cause earthquakes?
Friction locks the fault while stress builds up in the surrounding rock. When the stress overcomes the friction, the rocks slip suddenly and the stored energy is released as seismic waves.
How is a fault different from a fold?
A fault forms when rock breaks and moves along a fracture, typically in colder, brittle rock near the surface. A fold forms when rock bends without breaking, typically under higher temperature and pressure.
Last Updated: September 2026
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