When it comes to slipping, sliding, and stability in soils, the key word is “liquefaction.”
During an event like an earthquake, liquefaction is the process by which saturated soil behaves like a liquid. This can be problematic, as a liquid soil loses structure and can cause buildings to sink, foundations to crack, and soil to slide down slopes all at once.
How does the type of soil affect how much a house will sink or shift during an earthquake? Conduct an experiment to test your ideas!