Open Access , 1:11 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/scientificreports.506 Research Article Open Access Open Access Scientific Reports Scientific Reports Open Access Volume 1 • Issue 11 • 2012 Keywords: Mercury; Seismometer; Electrical charge changing Introduction Seismograph is another Greek term from seismós and γράφω, gráphō, to draw. It is oſten used to mean seismometer, though it is more applicable to the older instruments in which the measuring and recording of ground motion were combined than to modern systems, in which these functions are separated. Both types provide a continuous record of ground motion; this distinguishes them from seismoscopes, which merely indicate that motion has occurred, perhaps with some simple measure of how large it was [1]. In 1800s the theory of elastic wave propagation in solid e theory of elastic wave propagation in solid materials is developed by Cauchy, Poisson, Stokes, materials is developed by Cauchy, Poisson, Stokes, Rayleigh, and others. ey describe primary and, and others. ey describe primary and secondary body waves (P- and S-waves) and surface secondary body waves (P- and S-waves) and surface waves. (eory is way ahead of observation) [2]. In 1857 R. Mallet, an Irish engineer, travelled to Italy to study damage caused by an earthquake near Naples. His work is generally considered to be the first serious work at observational seismology. In the 1960s, seismologists were able to show that the focal mechanisms (the type of faulting as inferred from the radiated seismic energy) of most global earthquakes are consistent with that expected from plate tectonic theory, thus helping to validate the still emerging paradigm [3]. Human ability to collect, process, and analyze earthquake data has been aided by rapid advance in electronics digital computers. Seismograms were mostly recorded using analog technique up to a few decades ago. Modern digital seismograph systems consist of analog and digital stages. e analog part of system involves the seismometer. Digital seismograph are merely sequences of numbers that must be processed in the context of analyze [4]. In 1961 the Worldwide Standardized Seismograph Network (WWSSN) was established, consisting of well- calibrated instruments with both short- and long-period seismometers. e 1960s and 1970s saw the development of the field of normal mode seismology, which gives some of the best constraints on the large- scale structure, particularly in density, of Earth’s interior [3]. Modern instruments use electronics. In some systems, the mass is held nearly motionless relative to the frame by an electronic negative feedback loop. e motion of the mass relative to the frame is measured, and the feedback loop applies a magnetic or electrostatic force to keep the mass nearly motionless. e voltage needed to produce this force is the output of the seismometer, which is recorded digitally. In other systems the weight is allowed to move, and its motion produces a voltage in a coil attached to the mass and moving through the magnetic field of a *Corresponding author: Mohammad Mehdi Masoumi, Department of Civil Azad University, Fars, Iran, E-mail: [email protected] Received November 12, 2012; Published December 03, 2012 Copyright: © 2012 Masoumi MM, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits un- restricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract The Mercury Seismometer (MS) proposed for this paper was supposed to be worked by electrical charge and electrical discharge such as capacitors and included mercury, copper wire, power supply, LC meter. The MS was more sensitive in the recording of vibrations. Vibrations could change the capacitor capacity or cause changes in the capacity of the capacitor which showed on the LC meter set. The charge changes of the capacitor were the major target, which show vibration. By increasing charge, the MS worked as a seismometer and if charge decrease worked as seismic acceleration recorder, accelerograph. The thermal effects are ineffective on the MS. magnet attached to the frame [5]. Totally simple current seismometer works with electromagnetic [6]. In this present research, it has been attempted to show another seismometer for records quakes and seismic better and more sensitive. In contrast to work of other types of seismometers which mentioned above mercury assumed as mass that allow motion or motionless [7]. e mercury seismometer (MS) proposed for the present project was supposed to be worked by electrical charge and electrical discharge in order to gain more sensitivity and better in recording seismic for all ranges of ground motion and major part of the MS was mercury. Experiment A simple design of seismometer was built with a test tube of 1.8cm interior diameter, 50cm lacquer copper wire with 0.5mm diameter, mercury, signal generator, LC meter, power supply and an auto switch. In the experiment, 20ml of mercury was poured into the test tube then the lacquer copper wire change to spiral shape (when the copper wire was connected to the sets such as power supply or the LC meter without lacquer and when proximity of the mercury it had lacquer) then put in the test tube somehow some parts were pushed in the mercury a little and tried to motionless all mounted parts on plate. e power supply made electric current equal 6.5v which on side connected to the lacquer copper wire and other side of electric current connected to the mercury that it is electrically conductive (Figure 1a), then the power supply disconnected then connected to the LC meter or the power supply was replaced by the LC meter (Figure 1b) that the LC meter showed capacity of electrical charge. When weak vibrations were happed manually (by one finger beat on the plate) in distance of 30cm, eventually the number of the LC meter was changing between 24 nμ and 19 nμ. While the intensity of vibrations increase manually, numerical range changing showed on the LC meter expanded. e Mercury Seismometer (MS) was simulated in this project, the test tube was filled by mercury and the copper wire was fixed there which was approximately spiral in Seismometer Working with Mercury Mohammad Mehdi Masoumi 1 * and Fatemeh Habibi Ardekani 2 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Young Researchers Club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Fars, Iran 2 Civil Engineering Department, Shiraz University, Fars, Iran Citation: Masoumi MM, Habibi Ardekani F (2012) Seismometer Working with Mer- cury. 1:506. doi:10.4172/scientificreports.506 Masoumi and Habibi Ardekani Engineering, Young Researchers Club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic