Name_________________ Date__________________ Pd______
Plate Tectonics Candy Bar Simulation Activity
How do the tectonic plates move?
Objectives
1. Students gain understanding of plate movement in modeling the affects of plate tectonics by applying
different forces to a soft candy bar.
2. Students demonstrate in their written responses their knowledge of different types of plate
boundaries by applying them to the candy bar model.
3. Students demonstrate their knowledge of different types of deformation, faulting and land formations
caused by stresses applied to the candy bar model.
Use your notes over the continental drift and plate tectonics to help answer these questions.
Procedures:
1. Do – unwrap the candy bar and gently pull on it from both sides so that the candy bar stretches
but does not break apart.
Questions:
a. What type of force are you applying to the candy bar?__________________________
b. What type of plate boundary does this candy bar model represent?
________________________________________________________________________
c. What type of deformation (mountain, valley, plateau, etc.) from stress does the candy bar exhibit?
________________________________________________________________________
2. Continue to pull on the candy bar until it break apart.
a. What type of deformation (mountain, valley, plateau, etc.) from stress does the candy bar exhibit?
_______________________________________________________________
3. Now put the two pieces together and slide them past one another.
b. Plates that undergo this type of force create what type of boundary? What could be happening at
this boundary?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Now, push the two pieces back together and continue to push them together.
a. What type of force is being applied to the candy bar? ____________________________
b. What type of plate boundary does this candy bar represent?
_________________________________________________________________________
c. If the two pieces represent continental plates, what type of landform develops as you push the pieces
together? ______________________________________________________
5.Force one piece of the candy bar to slide under the other
a. What is called when one plate sinks below the other? ___________________________
Eat your candy and enjoy!