双语科普：为什么有些建筑物在地震中倒塌而有些却没有？

Why do some buildings collapse in earthquakes and others don't?

When a natural disaster like an earthquake strikes a major city like Bangkok, it's always shocking when a big building collapses – why do some buildings fall when much taller ones are left intact?

当像地震这样的自然灾害袭击像曼谷这样的大城市时，一座大型建筑倒塌总是令人震惊——为什么有些建筑会倒塌，而更高的建筑却安然无恙？

WHY DO SOME BUILDINGS COLLAPSE?
为什么有些建筑物会倒塌？

We often think buildings fall when the ground right under them shakes, but it's not that simple. Earth has tectonic plates, huge rock slabs. They move a bit each year. When they rub, earthquakes happen. Fault lines are where plates meet.

我们通常认为建筑物是在其正下方的地面晃动时倒塌的，但事情并非如此简单。地球有构造板块，即巨大的岩石板。它们每年都会移动一点。当它们相互摩擦时，就会发生地震。断层线是板块交汇的地方。

Most buildings aren't on fault lines, but some big cities like Tokyo, New York, and Mumbai have many people living near them.

大多数建筑物不在断层线上，但像东京、纽约和孟买这样的一些大城市有很多人居住在断层线附近。

HOW DO WE REDUCE IMPACT?
我们如何减少影响？

Architects and engineers use small models to learn how to protect buildings from earthquakes. These models, even if simple, help a lot because the rules of physics stay the same.

建筑师和工程师使用小模型来研究如何保护建筑物免受地震影响。这些模型即使很简单，也很有帮助，因为物理规律是不变的。

Most collapses are not generally caused by the earthquake itself. Rather, when the ground moves beneath a building, it shifts the foundation of the building's lower levels.

大多数建筑物的倒塌通常不是由地震本身直接导致的。更确切地说，当地面在建筑物下方移动时，会使建筑物底层的地基发生位移。

That displacement sends shockwaves through the building's upper levels, causing it to move back and forth. Shockwaves are also known as seismic waves.

这种位移会在建筑物的上层产生冲击波，使其来回晃动。冲击波也被称为地震波。

The strength of these shockwaves is determined by several factors:

这些冲击波的强度由几个因素决定：

（1）The earthquake's magnitude – bigger earthquakes create greater seismic force.

（1）地震的震级——震级越大，产生的地震力越大。

（2）Distance from the epicentre – buildings closest to the epicentre will experience more intense shaking.

（2）与震中的距离——离震中最近的建筑物将经历更强烈的晃动。

（3）Soil type - If the soil under a building's foundation is soft and loose, it makes shockwaves stronger. This means the building will be hit by more force during an earthquake.

（3）土壤类型——如果建筑物地基下的土壤松软，会使冲击波更强。这意味着建筑物在地震中会受到更大的力。

In conclusion, understanding these factors helps us build safer buildings. Architects and engineers keep working hard. By using the right materials, considering soil and location, we can reduce building collapses during earthquakes and protect lives.

总之，了解这些因素有助于我们建造更安全的建筑物。建筑师和工程师们一直在努力工作。通过使用合适的材料，考虑土壤和位置等因素，我们可以减少地震中建筑物的倒塌，保护生命安全。

翻译：豆包

整理：2025年4月17日于经典龙苑