Earth Science
Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Objectives: Chapter 8 - Plate Tectonics
1. Discuss some of the evidence that Alfred Wegner used to support his idea of
continental drift.
2. Explain how the theory of plate tectonics helps to predict the locations of
earthquakes and volcanoes.
3. Discuss the differences among the three types of plate boundaries.
4. Contrast the three types of convergent boundaries.
5. Discuss mantle convection as a possible cause of plate movements.
6. Compare and contrast ridge push and slab pull.
7. Identify the energy process in the mantle – convection – and relate the effect of
heating and cooling to rising and sinking of material.
8. Explain how the Earth’s landmasses have changed positions over the past 200
million years.
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Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Chapter-8: Plate Tectonics
To learn about Objectives-1&2, do the following:
 Read and outline Section 8.1: What is Plate Tectonics?
 Define:
o Plate tectonics
o Continental Drift
o Mid-ocean ridge
 What observations support the continental drift hypothesis?
 How do observations of earthquake and volcanic activity support the theory of plate
tectonics?
 What evidence in support of plate tectonics is provided by studies of the ocean
floor?
For Objectives 3 & 4, do the following:
 Read and outline Section 8.2
 Define:
o Divergent boundary
o Rift valley
o Rifts
o Subduction boundary
o Deep-sea trench
o Collision boundary
o Transform boundary
 Carefully copy the chart on page 179 onto your sheet.
 Explain how new oceanic crust is formed at a divergent boundary.
 Describe two different types of subduction boundaries, identify an example of each
type (map on pages 712-713).
 Describe what happens at a collision boundary, identify a collision boundary (map
on pages 712-713).
 Describe the movement of plates at a transform boundary, give examples.
For Objectives 5, 6, & 7: do the following:
 Read and outline Section 8.3 “Causes of Plate Movement”
 With your group, work through Lab Activity “Convection Currents”.
 Copy the illustration at the bottom of page180.
 Define:
o Mantle convection
o Ridge push
o Slab pull
 How does the mantle convection hypothesis explain plate movements at divergent
boundaries and subduction boundaries?
For Objective 8, do the following:
 Read and outline Section 8.4 “Plate Movements and Continental Growth”
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Describe what scientists hypothesize Earth’s surface liked like 200 million years
ago and 180 million years ago.
Define:
o Pangaea
o Craton
o Terrane
Describe at least two processes that contribute to the growth of continents over
time.
Chapter review questions on pages 190 – 191.
Chapter 8 Test
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Objectives:
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Chapter 9 - Volcanoes
Analyze how magma forms as a result of plate motion and interaction.
Identify three types of magma and locate where each one forms.
Determine how the composition of magma effects the formation and structure of a
volcano – shield, composite, and cone.
Classify volcanic activity on other planets and moons.
Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Learning Activities

Objective: Analyze how magma forms as a result of plate motion and
interaction.
o Read/Outline Chapter 9.1 “How and Where Volcanoes Form”, starting on
page 194.
o Magma Formation: List the three (3) conditions that allow Magma to form.
o Briefly describe how Volcanoes form at the following three areas:
 Subduction Boundaries
 Divergent Boundaries
 Hot Spots

Objective: Identify three types of magma and locate where each one forms.
o Read/Outline Chapter 9.2 “Magma and Erupted Materials”, starting on page
199.
o Carefully copy the chart on page 199 “Characteristics of Magma” on to your
notes.
o Briefly describe the two types of lava flows:
 Land
 Water

Objective: Determine how the composition of magma effects the formation
and structure of a volcano – shield, composite, and cone.
o Read and Outline Chapter 9.3 “Volcanic Landforms”, starting on page 202.
o Briefly describe how each of the following volcanic landform is formed and
why:
 Shield Volcanoes
 Cinder Cones
 Composite Volcanoes
 Calderas
 Lava Plateaus
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Objective: Classify volcanic activity on other planets and moons.
o Read and Outline Chapter 9.4 “Extraterrestrial Vulcanism”, starting on page
206.
o Describe what type of volcanoes are found on the following planets:
 Mars
 Venus
 Io
Section review questions:
o 9.1: 1 thru 5
o 9.2: 1 thru 5
o 9.3: 1 thru 3
o 9.4: 1 thru 6
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Map Activity on page 208-209.
o Read and follow the “Procedures”.
Chapter-9 Review
o Vocabulary Review
o Concept Review
o Critical Thinking
o Interpreting Graphs
Chapter-9 Test
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Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Earthquakes
Chapter-10
Objectives:
1. Explain how most earthquakes result from strain that builds up along faults or near
plate boundaries.
2. Describe how the energy released in an earthquake travels as waves.
3. Summarize how the magnitude of an earthquake is measured.
4. Summarize earthquake hazards and the damage they can cause.
5. Describe how data from seismic waves are used to infer the structure of Earth’s
interior.
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Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Objective-1: You should be able to explain how most earthquakes result from strain
that builds up along faults or near plate boundaries.
1) Read and Outline Section “How and Where Earthquakes Occur” starting on page 214
and ending on page 216.
2) Causes of Earthquakes
a) In your outline of this section make sure you define the following KEY Vocabulary:
i) Earthquake
ii) Focus
iii) Epicenter
b) Carefully copy the illustration “Focus and Epicenter of an Earthquake” on page 214.
Objective-2: You should be able to describe how the energy released in an
earthquake travels as waves.
1) Body Waves
a) In your outline of this section make sure you define the following KEY Vocabulary:
i) Body waves
ii) P waves
iii) S waves
2) Surface Waves
a) In your outline of this section make sure you define the following KEY Vocabulary:
i) Surface waves
ii) Love waves
iii) Rayleigh waves
3) Answer the following questions:
a) Explain where earthquakes are most likely to originate and why they originate in
these places.
b) Describe the difference between the focus of an earthquake and the epicenter of an
earthquake.
c) Suppose an earthquake’s P waves travel at an average speed of 6 kilometers per
second, and it’s S waves travel at an average speed of 3.4 kilometers per second.
i) How long will it take the P waves to reach a recording station that is 60
kilometers away from the focus?
ii) How long after the P waves will the S waves reach the same station?
Objective 3: When you finish this section, you will be able to summarize how the
magnitude of an earthquake is measured.
1) Read and outline section “Locating and Measuring Earthquakes” starting on page 217.
2) Seismographs
a) In your outline of this section make sure you include the following KEY Vocabulary:
i) Seismograph
ii) Seismogram
3) Interpreting a Seismogram
a) Make a note as to which wave travels slower than others.
b) What is a “Travel-Time Graph”?
c) How is the different wave speeds used to determine an earthquakes epicenter?
4) Locating the Epicenter
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a) Briefly describe how epicenter distances are used to locate an epicenter.
5) Measuring an Earthquake’s Magnitude
a) As you outline this section, pay close attention to the Richter Scale and how it is
scaled.
b) Make sure you define the KEY Vocabulary:
i) Magnitude
ii) Richter Scale
6) Answer the following questions:
a) Explain how a seismograph records earthquake data.
b) Explain what is meant by magnitude with regard to an earthquake. Name two
different scales that are used to measure an earthquake’s magnitude.
Objective-4: Summarize earthquake hazards and the damage they can cause.
1) Read and outline section 10.3 “Earthquake Hazards” starting on page 222.
2) Damage from Earthquakes
a) Ground Shaking and Foundation Failure
i) Make sure you define the KEY vocabulary:
(1) Liquefaction
b) Aftershocks and Fire
i) KEY vocabulary:
(1) Aftershocks
c) Tsunamis
3) Preventing Earthquake Damage
a) What data is used?
b) Why?
4) Earthquake Risk
5) Predicting Earthquakes
a) Make sure you define seismic gaps.
6) Answer the following questions:
a) Describe how ground shaking and liquefaction can cause buildings to collapse.
b) Describe seismic gap and explain why it may be a site of future earthquake activity.
Objective 5: Describe how data from seismic waves are used to infer the structure of
Earth’s interior.
1) Read and outline section 10.4 “Studying Earth’s Interior” starting on page 228.
2) Make sure you describe what the following are:
a) The shadow Zone
b) The Moho
c) The Transition Zone
3) Answer the following questions:
a) How was the Moho discovered?
b) Explain why the shadow zone of an earthquake in Japan would be different from the
shadow zone of an earthquake in California.
On a clean sheet of paper, answer the Vocabulary Review, Concept Review, Critical
thinking, and Interpreting data on pages 232 and 233.
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Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Mountain Building
Chapter – 11
OBJECTIVES: Explain how some of earth’s major mountain belts formed.
1) Compare and contrast active and passive continental margins.
2) Explain how compression, tension, and shear stress deform rocks.
3) Compare and contrast anticlines and synclines.
4) Distinguish among the three major types of faults – normal, reverse, and strike-slip.
5) Classify mountain ranges by their most prominent features.
6) Compare and contrast folded mountains, dome mountains, volcanic mountains, and
fault-block mountains.
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Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Objective – 1: Explain how some of earth’s major mountain belts formed.
Learning Activities –
1. Read section 11.1 “Where Mountains Form”
2. Define the following terms:
a. Mountain
b. Appalachian mountains
3. Writing:
a. Explain how some of the mountain belts are formed.
b. Where are most mountain ranges located?
Objective – 2: Describe Compare and contrast active and passive continental margins:
Learning Activities:
1. Define the following terms:
a. Continental margin
b. Passive continental margins
2. Writing:
a. Compare and contrast Active and Passive continental margins:
i. Locations
ii. Similarities of material
b. Look at the plate boundary map on pages 712-713. List at least two active
continental margins and two passive continental margins. What mountain
ranges appear to be associated with the active continental margins you
identified?
Objective -3: Explain how compression, tension and shear stress deform rocks.
1. Read the section “Types of Stress” in How Mountains Are Formed. (page 238)
a. Define the following:
i. Anticline
ii. Syncline
b. Write a description of each type of stress, and how each one works.
i. Compression
ii. Tension
iii. Shear stress
c. Draw a sketch of a compression, tension and shear stress. Use arrows to
show forces acting on the rock.
Objective-4: Compare and contrast anticlines and synclines
Learning Activities:
1. Read section 11.2 “Folds”
a. Write a comparison and contrast of anticlines and synclines.
b. Draw a simple sketch of a syncline, and an anticline.
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Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Objective – 5: Distinguish among the three major types of faults – normal, reverse, and
strike-slip.
Learning Activities:
1. Read section 11.2 “Faults”
a. Write a description of each type of fault.
b. Draw a sketch of each type of fault
c. Write an explanation of the difference between a normal fault and reverse
fault.
d. Describe the movement in a strike-slip fault.
2. Work with a partner and do the mini-lab on page 240 in your text book. Obtain
the materials from your instructor. Write up the lab, and answer the “Analysis”
questions.
Objective – 6: Classify mountain ranges by their most prominent features
Learning Activities:
1. Read section 11.3 “Types of Mountains”
2. Define the following terms:
a. Folded mountain
b. Dome mountain
c. Fault-block mountain
3. What type of mountain tend to form when two landmasses collide?
4. Where do volcanic mountains tend to form?
5. How do fault-block mountains form?
Objective – 7: Compare and contrast folded mountains, dome mountains, volcanic
mountains, and fault-block mountains
Learning Activities:
1. Fill in the following chart:
Type of
Crust
Where are they
found
Uplift
Mechanism
Plutonic
Dome
Mountain:
Tectonic
Dome
Mountain
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Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH
Examples of
Folded
Mountain
Volcanic
Mountain
Fault-block
Mountain
Map Activity
Purpose: To explore the locations and features of folded mountains.
Skills and Objectives:
 Observe the locations of the major mountain ranges.
 Correlate mountain system locations with types of plate boundaries
 Compare and contrast continental and oceanic mountain ranges
 Infer the relative resistance to weathering of various rock types.
With your lab partners, take out a clean sheet of paper. Label it “Chapter 11 Map Activity”.
Carefully read the introduction on page 246 to this activity. Then work through this activity.
Answer all the questions on the clean sheet of paper.
You are now ready to take the test.
Chapter 11 Test
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Unit-3 DYNAMIC EARTH