A shake table can be used to test the resistance of structures to seismic shaking. It can also be used to demonstrate the sensitivity of structures of different heights to the frequency of the ground motion.
The shake table pictured below, which was designed and built by John Lahr with expert advice from Tom Tompkins. It is based on a lightweight platform that is constrained to move in just one direction. The platform is made from a 10 inch by 10 inch piece of foam-core board. Hollow metal tubes are connected to the left and right edges with hot glue. Metal rods (made from welding rods) are slid through the tubes and the ends of the rods are held firmly by wooden blocks. The blocks are hot glued to a plywood base.