Caralee Starling

MAT 601

My Webquest

Plate Tectonics

Grade Level: 9

Objective: To understand the theory of plate tectonics and how it affects our earth.

On a separate piece of paper answer the following questions about plate tectonics.

1. Watch this BBC documentary on the movement of plates. Go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryrXAGY1dmE

a. This overview of plate tectonics explains that convection drives plate spreading. What

drives the convection?

b. What drags the plates back down into the mantle?

c. The video shows a subduction zone where one plate gets subducted back into the mantle.

What comes with the plate?

2. Examine the mechanisms of plate tectonics. Go to:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/tecmech.html

a. In your own words, what are the main points in the theory of plate tectonics?

b. What data supports the idea of Sea-Floor Spreading?

3. Historically there have been other theories besides plate tectonics to explain the current state

of the earth. Go to: http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate2.htm

a. What are the earlier theories leading up to the discovery of plate tectonics?

b. What data supports plate tectonic theory?

4. Each plate touches at least two other plates and interacts on something called the plate

boundary. Go to: http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp

a. Discuss the various types of plate boundaries. Give a real-world example of each.

Drawings are welcome.

5. Watch the animations of how the plates have moved through the main eras. Go to:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/tectonics.html

Watch the animated gif “Last 750 million years”

a. What are the major eras of Earth’s history?

b. Explain why this animation is called “continental drift.” Is that the best term? Justify your

answer.

6. Look at the maps of the earth throughout earth’s history. Go to:

http://scotese.com/earth.htm

a. What will the Earth look like in 250 Million years from now?

b. Where would be a good place to build a ski resort?

7. The layers of the earth are very important in plate tectonic theory. Go to:

http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate1.htm

a. What are the layers of the earth?

b. What are they made of?

c. How do these layers interact to create plates?

8. Understanding the rock cycle is fundamental to understanding plates. But you will also be

able to understand the rock cycle when you understand plate tectonics. Let’s apply our

knowledge. Go to: http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html

a. Explain the three rock types.

b. In plate tectonics how are these rocks cycled? Give an example of each(This will require

some thinking.)

9. Plate tectonics cause many natural disasters. Go to:

http://seps.mgd-colo.peak.org/earthquakes_and_tsunamis.htm

a. What is an earthquake?

b. What is a tsunami?

c. Name one type of earthquake that occurs near the Juan de Fuca plate. Explain how it

differs from the other two types of earthquakes.

10. The US Geological Survey keeps up-dated articles documenting the effects of plate tectonics.

Go to: http://www.usgs.gov/natural_hazards/

a. Summarize one article from the natural hazard section in a paragraph.