Plate Tectonics
IMPLOAR

1. If you were given data
indicating the arrival time
of P-waves and S- waves
recorded from three
seismic stations, which of
these can you possibly
determine?
a. damage at the hypocentre
b. epicenter of an earthquake
c. damage at the epicenter
d.intensity of an earthquake
2. From the seismograph, what is
being described when measuring the
distance to the epicentre?
a. the arrival time of surface
wave
b. the difference in the arrival
times of P and S waves
c. the ratio of the amplitude of
the largest P and S waves
d. the speed of the surface
waves
3. Which of following is NOT a
basis of scientists in dividing
Earth’s lithosphere into several
plates?
a. Seismicity
(occurrence of
earthquake)
b. Climate
c. Volcanism
d. Mountain formation
4. You were asked to locate
the epicentre of a recent
earthquake. Which
CORRECT sequence of
events should you follow?
I. Determine the difference in
the arrival time of S and P
waves
II. Use the triangulation
method to locate the center
III. Obtain data from three
different seismological
stations
IV. Determine the distance of
the epicentre from the station
a. I, III, II, IV
b. III, I, IV, II
c. III, IV, I, II
d. IV, II, I, III
Recall: Sci-Voc

Compare
and
Contrast:
CLOANTTNIEN
TRUSC
and
OCICNEA
RUCTS

THRESPLIEHO
EAPLT
and
STECCITNO
EPLTA

P SAWVE
and
S VASEW

CPEIETREN
and
CUFSO

MSAEIRSGOM
and
HOMGSRIEAPS

Plate Tectonics

LITHOSPHERE
PLATE
and
TECTONICS
PLATE

Lithosphere

Crust
Continental and Oceanic
Upper Mantle (Asthenosphere)
CONTINENTAL
CRUST
and
OCEANIC
CRUST

EPICENTER
and
FOCUS

P WAVES
and
S WAVES

SEISMOGRAM
and
SEISMOGRAPH

What are the basis of scientists in dividing
the lithosphere in this manner?
IMPLOAR

1. How will you compare the
distribution of mountain
ranges with the distribution
of earthquake epicenters
and volcanoes?
A. They are not randomly
distributed
B. Almost all lie on the same
location
C. They are randomly
distributed
D. They are scattered
everywhere
2.Volcanoes occur in similar
locations to earthquakes, and
are common along plate
boundaries. What do you call
to the location where you can
find sixty percent of volcanoes
surrounding the Pacific Ocean?
a. The hot zone
b. The volcano zone
c. The ring of fire
d. The hot spot
3. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake
rocked parts of Luzon in April
22, leaving at least 9 people
dead in the province of
Pampanga. In a bulletin,
Phivolcs said the epicenter of
the earthquake was located in
Castillejos, Zambales.
Why do you think there is
greater destruction in the
province of Pampanga
compared to Castillejos,
Zambales which is the
epicenter of the earthquake?
a. Earthquake destruction does
not only depend on location of the
epicenter but on geological and
structural condition of the place.
b. Earthquake destruction
depends on the location of the
place.
c. Deeper earthquakes are less
damaging in the epicenter.
d. Earthquake that hits in a
populated area is more likely to
do damage than one that hits an
unpopulated area
4. Refer to the illustration
below. Identify which will be
the most accurate location of
epicenter of the earthquake
using the triangulation
method.
D
C
A
B
Act. 1: Find the center.

Objective:
Locate the epicenter of an
earthquake using the
triangulation method
Materials:
• hypothetical records of
earthquake waves
• Philippine map
• drawing compass and ruler
Procedure:
1. Study the data showing the
difference in the arrival time
of P-wave and S-wave on three
seismic recording stations
33.1
40.5
26.5
2. Compute the distance of the epicenter from
each of the stations using this formula:
3. Choose one of the recording
stations and measure the computed
distance on the map scale (the scale of
the map in Figure 3 is 1.5 cm: 200 km).
Distance on the map (cm) =
Distance of
epicenter from
the station (km)
X 1.5 cm
200 km
Set your compass for that computed
distance.
4. Center your compass on the station
you have chosen. Draw a circle.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the rest of
the stations. You should get three
circles that intersect or nearly
intersect at a point. This intersection is
the epicenter.
Q1. Where is the epicenter
of this hypothetical
earthquake?
Q2. What difficulty will you
encounter if you only have
data from two recording
stations?
The distance-time graph above
shows that S-P interval is about
10 mins.
Q3. What is the distance of the
epicenter from the seismic station?
Q4. What do you think is the
importance of determining the
epicenter of an earthquake
What are the basis of scientists in dividing
the lithosphere in this manner?
Locating Epicenter: Triangulation

Locating Epicenter: Triangulation

Philippine Monitoring Stations

Seismologists

P waves travel faster than S
wave
 You can determine the
epicenter of an earthquake
using difference of arrival
time of P-waves and Swaves recorded from three
seismic stations
Triangulation method is
used to determine the exact
location of the epicenter by:
1. Obtaining data from three
different seismological
stations
2. Determining the difference
in the arrival time of S and P
waves
3. Determining the distance
of the epicentre from the
station
4. Using the triangulation
method to locate the center
Remember:

 Determining the location of
earthquake epicenters plays
a vital role in laying the
foundations of plate
tectonics.
But....

How do you think early
geologists used the plotted
positions of earthquake
epicenters throughout the
world in conceptualizing
crustal movements?
Activity 2
Let’s Mark the Boundaries
Objectives:
• Describe the distribution of
active volcanoes, earthquake
epicenters, and major mountain
belts.
• Determine the scientific basis for
dividing the Lithospheric plates.
Materials:
•List of earthquake distribution in the
world
• List of active volcanoes of the
world
• List of Mountain ranges of the
world
• plastic sheet used for book cover,
• plastic sheet used for book cover,
same size as a book
• marking pens
Procedure:
1. Study earthquake distribution
around the world. Make a dot for
each country then connect the
dots using a marking pen on the
plastic sheet.
List of earthquake distribution in the
world (21)
Argentina Portugal Canada China
Egypt
Alaska Iceland India
Indonesia
Japan
Mexico New Zealand Hawaii
Philippines Russia South Africa
South Korea Spain
Taiwan
United Kingdom USA
Q1. How are earthquakes
distributed on the map?
(Random, almost lie on the
same plane, Scattered)
Q2. Where are they located?
( Near the ocean, Midcontinent)
Q3. Where are there no
earthquakes?
(Give atleast 1 country)
Q4. Why is it important for us
to identify areas which are
prone to earthquakes?
List of active volcanoes (21)
Namibia
Canada China Kenya
Alaska
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Japan
Hawaii
Mexico
New Zealand
Philippines Russia South Africa
South Korea Spain Taiwan UK
USA
Chile
2. Make a dot for each country
then connect the dots using a
marking pen on the plastic
sheet.
Q5. How are volcanoes
distributed? (Random, almost
lie on the same plane,
Scattered)
Q6. Where are they located?
( Near the ocean, Mid-continent, in
the ocean)
Q7. Based on the map, mention a
country that is unlikely to
experience a volcanic eruption.
(Give atleast 1 country)
3. Make a dot for each country
then connect the dots using a
marking pen on the plastic
sheet.
List of mountain ranges (20)
Argentina Iceland Canada China
Kenya
Alaska
India
Indonesia Japan Hawaii
Mexico
New Zealand
Philippines Russia South Africa
South Korea Spain
Taiwan
UK
USA
4. Observe the traces you have
gathered.
Q8. How would you relate the
distribution of mountain ranges
with the distribution of
earthquake epicenters and
volcanoes? (Random, almost lie on
the same plane, Scattered)
Q9. What feature is evident
along the pacific ocean, where
there are concentration of
active volcanoes?
Q10. What do you think is the
basis of scientists in dividing
Earth’s lithosphere into several
plates?
 The plates are in constant
motion.
As they interact along their
margins, important
geological processes take
place, such as the formation
of mountain belts,
earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Seatwork No. 1
1. If you were given data
indicating the arrival time
of P-waves and S- waves
recorded from three
seismic stations, what can
you possibly determine?
2. From the seismograph, what is
being described when measuring the
distance to the epicentre?
3. What are the basis of
scientists in dividing Earth’s
lithosphere into several
plates?
4. What are the steps in
finding the epicenter of an
earthquake using a
triangulation method?
( 4pts)
5. Compare the distribution
of mountain ranges with the
distribution of earthquake
epicenters and volcanoes?
6. What do you call to the
location where you can find
sixty percent of volcanoes
surrounding the Pacific Ocean?
7. Give one factor that can
cause heavy damage in a place
during an earthquake.
8. What is the point
underground where the
earthquake begins and seismic
waves are propagated
(created).
9. What is the difference
between continental and
oceanic crust? (2 pts)
10. Describe the basic drill
during an earthquake.
Why do you think there is
greater destruction in the
province of Pampanga
compared to Castillejos,
Zambales which is the
epicenter of the earthquake?
a. Earthquake destruction does
not only depend on location of the
epicenter but on geological and
structural condition of the place.
b. Earthquake destruction
depends on the location of the
place.
c. Deeper earthquakes are less
damaging in the epicenter.
d. Earthquake that hits in a
populated area is more likely to
do damage than one that hits an
unpopulated area
4. Refer to the illustration
below. Identify which will be
the most accurate location of
epicenter of the earthquake
using the triangulation
method.
D
C
A
B
Bring: Application

A video will be shown
about the affected areas
of the west valley fault
For 2 mins. Each group will
role play a certain scenarios
of the ways to ensure
disaster preparedness
before , during, and after
an earthquake
• a family inside a
house,
• a barkada inside a
mall,
• Teacher and students
inside a classroom
• Employees inside a
government office
• Employees inside a
manufacturing
company
• A family having an
outing in a beach
• Barkada inside a car
• Mountaineering club
climbing a mountain
Performance will be
graded according to the
following