Unit 4:
Plate Tectonics
&
Topographic Maps
Name:
Block:
Earth Science
Teacher:
Table of Contents
Pages
Title of Page/Assignment
0,1
Daily Warm Ups
3
Measuring in Metric [notes]
2
Metric Problems & Conversions
5
Layers of the Earth [notes]
4
Label the Layers
7
What is Plate Tectonics Theory? [notes]
6
A Cold Dig
9
Divergent Boundaries [notes]
8
Cross Section of a Divergent Boundary
11
Convergent Boundaries [notes]
10
Landforms at Convergent Boundaries
13
Transform Boundaries [notes]
12
The San Andreas Fault
15
Causes of Plate Movement [notes]
14
Convection Currents
17
Continental Growth [notes]
16
North American Craton
19, 21
Topographic Maps [notes]
18
Map Skills
20
Gradient Problems
STAMP #1
STAMP #3
STAMP #3
STAMP #6
STAMP #7
Daily Warm Ups
Warm
Up #
1
2
3
4
5
6
Date Question(s)
Answer(s)
Daily Warm Ups
Warm
Up #
7
8
9
10
11
12
Date Question(s)
Answer(s)
Measuring in Metrics

Base of



, for easy math
m=
cm=
mm
Standard units:
o
= gram (g)
o
= meter (m)
o
= liter (l)
All measurements have a
and a
!
MASS
o
amount of
o
Measured with a
o
Mass is
in an object
weight
VOLUME OF REGULAR SOLID OBJECT
o
The amount of space an object
o
V=
o
Units=
X
-
X
1
=1
VOLUME OF REGULAR SOLID OBJECT
o
Use the
method in a graduated cylinder
-
V=
-
Read the
, or bottom of the curve
DENSITY
o
The amount of
o
Formula:
o
Units=
o
Density is always the
in a certain
=
for a given uniform material!
METRIC CONVERSIONS
khd m dcm
l
g
k= kilo
m= meters
d= deci
h= hecto
l= liters
c= centi
d= deca
g= grams
m= milli
Layers of the Earth

layers separated out by
; with the
dense being at the
center

4 major layers:
Name:
State of Matter
What is it made of?
crust
mantle
(contains two additional
“special layers”)
outer core
inner core

SPECIAL LAYERS OF THE MANTLE
1. Lithosphere:
o Contains
and uppermost part of
2. Asthenosphere:
o
but very hot
o Rocks are
& act like
(tectonic plates) on its ‘back’
o Carries the

THE INNER CORE
o The core of the Earth is
o
is solid because of extreme
o Inner core is the size of the
than the rest of the earth generating our
and rotates
What is Plate Tectonics Theory?
The Discovery of Plate Tectonics
A. Continental Drift (Alfred Wegener)- proposed large-scale movement of the
with the following evidence:
1. “ Puzzle Fit” of continents to form “
“
a. Gondwana
b. Pangea
2. Similar
ages on different continents
3. Similar
structures
4.
evidence from the Mesosaurus & other ancient animals
5.
evidence such as glacial deposits found on the tip of South
Africa

Wegener’s theory did not gain support because
B. Seafloor Spreading (Henry Hess)
1.
currents move plates around
2. The
is the source of heat and convection
3. Proposed both
and
sea floor
4. Evidence from subs in WWII around the mid-Atlantic ridge showed the seafloor is a
of itself on either side of the ridge
C. Magnetic Pole Reversals or “Tape Recording”
1. Switching the strength to the
from the
2. Preserved in the seafloor as lava cools because
3. Age of these
can be calculated and if the seafloor is
spreading from a center, the bands should be
on each side of
ridge
a.
= distance / time
A Mosaic of Plates
A. The entire Earth’s surface is made up of
plates
a. These plates are made up of the special layer of the Earth called the
and “ride” on top of the
B. Plates have both
a. Continental crust is
crust and
crust
dense than oceanic crust
C. Specific geologic activities occur at plate boundaries or because of plate movement: (5)
Divergent Boundaries

Divergent means:

“di” means:
(think of
or
)
WHERE IN THE WORLD?
1.
, or any mid-ocean ridge
2.
, which is splitting apart down the middle because it’s
on the Mid-Atlantic ridge
3.
, which is splitting into thirds
LANDFORMS:
1.
; most of the world’s rift valleys are on the
2.
3.
; occur when land separates over time (East Africa)
4.
; any opening in the Earth’s crust where lava escapes
5.
; crust breaks as it cracks & breaks apart
Convergent Boundaries

convergent means

“con” means

there are
(think
or
)
types:
1. Subduction Boundary/Zone

the

two scenarios: (A)
plate subducts beneath the
dense plate
& (B)
A. OCEAN-OCEAN subduction

Resulting Landforms: (1)
(2)
(chain)

Where is this boundary?
1.
, Alaska
2.
3.
(Challenger Deep)
B. OCEAN-CONTINENT subduction

Resulting Landforms: (1)

Where is this boundary?
(2)
1.
, South America
2.
, USA
2. Collision Boundary CONTINENT-CONTINENT

No

Resulting Landforms: (1)

Where is this boundary?
, therefore no
& (2)
1.
, India
2.
, USA (long ago!)
Transform Boundaries

these plates

each other
Earth’s crust and landforms
and
LANDFORMS:
(1)
(2)
zone
Zones
WHERE IN THE WORLD?
(1)
, California
(2)
, because of the Earth’s curved surface
Causes of Plate Movement & hot spots

 heating of a
and the cooler,
where the hot, less
portions sink
 constant
of substance creates

convection moves
portions
plates (just like a pot of water!)
 STRATIFIED CONVECTION (in our mantle): [[draw this diagram from PPT]]
1.
is heated in the
2. risen magma heats
mantle by the outer core &
mantle, but is cooler than rest of
mantle, and
3.
mantle magma rises to beneath the
them, then
, moves
as it cools
 FORCES CREATED BY CONVECTION

&
 convection currents
plates apart at
, and
them
back into the mantle at

helps plates sink back into mantle
 HOT SPOTS

occur along

; random areas
of magma seeps through
& build overtime
(volcanic islands, seamounts, guyots)
 can occur within a
or middle of the
 WHERE ARE THEY?
1.
2.
3.
, Wyoming
Continental Growth
 scientists use
found in
(1)
of rocks, (2)
(subduction), (4)
to reconstruct the past:
, (3) evidence of
on current continents, (5)
 indicates continents were once welded
called
deposits
in a

boundaries (subduction & collision)

boundaries

old crust
new crust
: ancient core of a continent

rock is much
than oceanic
SOURCES OF GROWTH:
1.
are added to end of continental plate at
subduction zone
2.
erupting from volcanoes creates new rock
3.
erode landforms and transport sediments to edges of continents
* reasons why
of continents
up!
Topographic Maps
 topography means “

”
maps graph a 3D landscape on a 2D surface showing
 TOPO MAP FEATURES:
1.
connect areas of equal elevation above or below

contours are

are lighter with
with elevation marked
elevation
2. Contour Interval
 the
that each line represents
÷ # of contour
 FORMULA: distance between
3. Water Direction
 “
”: contour lines make V’s indicating
of
rivers & streams
 V’s point
 help map reader interpret elevations of
around stream
4. Hills
 contour lines are
in elevation within
contour
lines

lines are together, the
the slope
5. Depressions

or major holes in land (from sinkholes, volcanoes, etc)

contour lines, called
, point
into depression
6. Benchmarks & colors
 area of
elevation
contour lines (marked
by an X or BM)

- contour lines

- water

- forest, woods

- manmade structures
Topographic Maps (cont.)
GRADIENT/SLOPE
 how
a hill is (look how close lines are!)
 formula:
=
÷
units:
OR
MAP PROFILES

view along a
drawn through a topo map
 How to make one:
1. make a
your map & label (such as X-Y, X-X’, etc.)
2. use
and make “
” every time a contour line
intersects
3. record
next to each tick
4.
onto a
5.
, or graph paper
the dots to get a side view along your line!
MAP PROJECTIONS
means of transferring info from 3D to 2D; different “

 most have
”
, or areas of distortion because of curved Earth
 projections & flaws:
(1)
- distorts areas near pole; view
(2)
- distorts areas away from center point; view
(3)
- distorts poles & Equator; view
(4)
- no flaws; view entire word
MAP SCALES
 mathematical relationship between

and their true
or

the number on the right,
area map covers


on each side
gives quick visualization of distances on a map
the amount of
Metric Problems & Conversions
1. Every measurement has what two things? (Don’t forget both of these things on
your labs!!!)
2. What is the formula for density? If an object has a known mass of 2g and a
volume of 5ml, what is the object’s density?
3. What is the length, in cm, of this bold line?
Convert your answer to mm and km:
4. If an object has a known density of 4g/cm³ and a known mass of 2g, what does its
volume have to be? (hint: you’re solving this equation for volume)
5. If an object’s mass is 25.67kg, what is its mass in g?
How about mg?
6. Spike’s tank has a volume of 20,498 cm³, how many ml is this?
7. In the picture below, if each of the notches is equal to 5ml, what is the volume of
the rock?
8. In what subjects or units of this class have we seen the concept of density?
9. Mass the rock that is set up next to the triple beam balance.
10. When finding the volume using a graduated cylinder, what special location do we
look at to take a reading?
Label the Layers
Next to each arrow label each of the layers: outer core, inner core, crust, lithosphere, asthenosphere,
mantle
A Cold Dig
1. Antarctica has a very inhospitable climate. Why might fossils of warm-weather animals be
found there?
2. What are some non-human induced reasons that the climate of Antarctica might change in the
future? (Hint: relate your answer to plate tectonics)
Cross-Section of a Divergent Boundary
Landforms of Convergent Boundaries
Label the landforms on each of the three diagrams below.
Ocean-Ocean subduction:
A:
B:
B
A
Ocean-Continent subduction:
D
C
C:
D:
Continent-Continent collision
E
E:
The San Andreas Fault
Quick Write: If the North American and Pacific Plates keep moving the way they are currently,
where do you think Los Angeles, CA will end up in the future?
Convection Currents
Color and label this diagram of the Earth’s convection currents. Color the arrows RED that are hot
and color the arrows BLUE that are cooler. Label the features (provided arrows) that are formed by
ascending and descending convection currents. Add smaller arrows on the crust to show the direction
of plate/crustal movement.
Words to Use: rift valley, ridge, volcanic mountains, folded mountains, mantle, crust
North American Craton




Using your textbook, pp. 708-709, and the internet, label on the map below the major rivers
and mountain ranges in North America.
Use blue to label rivers and brown for mountains.
Use gray to outline, shade and label the Canadian Shield.
Use light green to estimate areas of North America that would be considered newer from
erosion of mountains and deposition of river sediments.
Gradient Problems
Map Skills
Use the map below to answer the following questions.
1. What is the contour interval of this map?
2. What is the elevation of:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
3. According to the Rule of V’s, which way does the river closest to D flow?
4. In what area of the map is there a depression? (Use cardinal directions.)
5. How many hills are represented on this map?