Final answer:
Buildings must incorporate earthquake-resistant design techniques using flexible materials and precise construction methods. Resonance and wave interference patterns must be considered to prevent collapse during an earthquake. Prefabrication and testing labs play essential roles in ensuring earthquake stability of modern buildings.
Step-by-step explanation:
To ensure buildings are safe during earthquakes, engineers must consider many factors in their design and construction processes. One method is to implement earthquake-resistant design techniques, which can include the use of base isolators to absorb seismic waves, creating a flexible foundation that allows the building to move with the earth's motion rather than resisting it. It's also crucial to use materials and construction methods that withstand the shaking and shifting of an earthquake.
Detailed examinations of earthquakes have shown that resonance and standing waves play a significant role in building destruction. Buildings that vibrate at the same frequency as the natural frequency of the earthquake can suffer from resonance, which can lead to collapse. On the other hand, buildings of certain heights may remain intact due to constructive and destructive interference patterns caused by the seismic waves. In modern construction, prefabrication using computer-aided machines ensures precision and reduces human error. Also, testing labs for earthquake stability are crucial for verifying the safety of designs.