Activity 1: Convergence Between an Oceanic Plate and a Continental Plate
Activity 2: Convergence Between Two Oceanic Crusts
Activity 3: Convergence Between Two Continental Crusts
Convergence Between an Oceanic Plate and a Continental Plate
Continental Crust
(Dry Foam)
Oceanic Crust
(Wet Foam)
E
xplain the processes that occur
along a convergent boundary
between an oceanic and a
continental plate.
1.
Half a cup of water
2.
2 pieces of foam (8cm x 16cm)
3.
A flat surface
1.
Soak half of the length of one of the foams into the water.
2.
Place it on the flat surface at least 2cm away from the other
foam.
3.
Position the soaked part of one of the foams at the middle
part of the setup.
4.
Slowly push 4cm inward each outer ends of the foams until
they overlap.
5.
Observe what happens.
Q1.
Which foam curves above the other?
The foam that wasn’t soaked in the water
Q2.
How does the water in the wet foam affect its density?
The water increases the density of the foam
Q3.
If the foams were pieces of the Earth’s crust, which one is the
continental crust?
The dry foam is the continental crust
Q4.
Which foam is the oceanic crust?
The wet foam is the oceanic crust
Q5.
In the activity, what made the wet foam move under the dry
foam?
The density of the wet foam made it move under the
dry foam.
Convergence Between Two Oceanic Crusts
E
xplain the processes that occur
along a convergent boundary
between 2 oceanic plates.
Rectangular basin or food
1.
tray half-filled with water
2.
2 pieces of Foam (8cm x 16cm each)
3.
A flat surface
1.
Submerge the two foams into the basin containing water.
2.
Arrange them at least 2 cm away from each other.
3.
Slowly push 4cm inward each outer end of the foams.
4.
Observe what happens.
Q6.
In the activity, you should have noticed that one foam
moved on top of the other while they are converging. If in the
process, the top foam suddenly flips up so that some water is
pushed forward and up, what do you see on the water
surface, a tsunami or a ripple?
If the top foam suddenly flips up so that water is
pushed forwards and up a tsunami is seen on the
surface.
Q7.
If the foams were Earth’s plates, then they are oceanic crusts
where one subducts under the other. Explain what happens
next when there is subduction.
When there is subduction, the front part of the
subducting plate becomes magma upon reaching the
mantle which then builds up pressure due to heat,
pushes the crust above it forming a volcano.
Convergence Between Two Continental Crusts
Continental Crust
Continental Crust
E
xplain the processes that occur
when two continental crusts
converge.
A small soup bowl half-filled
1.
with water
2 whole pieces of any
2. crunchy cracker or 2 slices
of bread
3.
A flat surface
1.
Soak at least 1/3 of the part of the two crackers or bread into
the saucer containing water.
2.
Arrange them on the flat surface so that their soaked parts
touch each other.
3.
Push the two crackers or bread slices inward and watch what
happens.
4.
On another sheet of paper, draw what you see in the setup
after step 3 and write your answers to the questions that follow.
Q8.
What happened to the colliding parts of the crackers?
The plates (bread slices) tried going over each other
and caused a stacking effect which elevated the ends
of the bread which collided.
Q9.
If the crackers were Earth’s crusts, what landform was
produced?
Because of the ends elevating it caused the formation
of really tall geologic features, namely mountain/s
and specifically mountain ranges.
Q10
.
What event will the people residing in nearby places
experience? Why?
People residing nearby where this phenomena might
occur will experience shallow earthquakes due to the
collision of plates, which have a tendency to be
more destructive than your usual earthquake.
Q11
.
Do you think volcanic eruption is possible to happen? Why?
No, the continental crusts will simply collide and
smash against each other, going upwards. Therefore no
occurrences involving the mantle.