Plate Tectonic Lab Directions
DIRECTIONS: GO TO WWW.MAGNER.WEEBLY.COM AND FIND THE TAB
THAT SAYS GEOLOGY. THERE SHOULD BE A TAB FOR ASSIGNMENTS.
CLICK THAT AND FIND THE PLATE TECTONICS MAP. TODAY YOU WILL
BE USING A FEW SIMULATIONS TO STUDY HOW PLATE TECTONICS
WORK. ALL WORK GOES ON YOUR LAB SHEET. GOOD LUCK!
DO NOT WRITE ON THIS SHEET.
A. PLATE TECTONICS MAP.
1. MANIPULATE THE MAP by selecting different features (earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.).
2. In BOX 1 OF YOUR LAB SHEET, answer the following question in complete sentences. What is the
relationship between Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and plate boundaries?
3. Select the maps which details the age of the sea floor and volcanoes. In BOX 2 OF YOUR LAB SHEET,
answer the following question – What is the relationship between VOLCANOES the AGE OF THE
SEA floor?
B. LAYERS OF THE EARTH MAP
1. Go back to the class website and find the button that says EARTH’S LAYERS. Click in.
2. On the map hit the button that says response to stress.
3. IN BOX 3 of YOUR LAB SHEET, compare the Earth’s lithosphere, Asthenosphere in terms of their
response to stress. In other words, do they break or bend?
C. PLATE TECTONIC SIMULATION - CRUST
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Go back to the class website, geology, assignments, and finally hit the button that says plate tectonic
simulation. Spend 3-5 minutes becoming familiar with the simulator. Here we go!
Select the tab which says CRUST. Use the sliders to create a THICK CRUST that is RICH IN SILICA.
Use the measurement tools to analyze its properties.
Use the sliders to create a THIN CRUST that is RICH IN SILICA. Use the measurement tools to
analyze its properties.
IN BOX 4 OF YOUR LAB SHEET, answer the following: Was there any change in Density or
Temperature, due to thickness? Explain.
Repeat the steps 3 & 4 to look for any differences in a CRUST RICH IN IRON.
IN BOX 5 OF YOUR LAB SHEET, answer the following: Was there any change in Density or
Temperature due to thickness? Explain.
D. PLATE TECTONIC SIMULATION – PLATE MOTION.
1. Click on the tab labeled PLATE MOTION. Familiarize yourself with the new tab.
2. Drag 1 oceanic crust (either young or old) & 1 continental crust onto the screen. Drag the plate
in the direction of the GREEN arrow.
3. IN BOX 6 OF YOUR LAB SHEET DRAW and DESCRIBE what the effect/outcome of this plate
movement was, and what caused this to happen.
4. Drag 2 old oceanic crusts onto the screen. Drag the plate in the direction of the RED arrow.
5. IN BOX 7 OF YOUR LAB SHEET DRAW AND DESCRIBE what the effect/outcome of this plate
movement was, and what caused this to happen.
6. Drag a Continental crust and continental crust onto the screen. Drag the plate in the direction
of the GREEN arrow.
7. IN BOX 8 OF YOUR LAB SHEET DRAW AND DESCRIBE what the effect/outcome of this plate
movement was, and what caused this to happen.
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E. PLATE TECTONIC SIMULATION – PLATE MOTION – AUTOMATIC
1. Reset all and Click on the AUTOMATIC SETTING. YOU MUST DESIGN 3 SEPARATE
EXPERIMENTS BETWEEN DIFFERENT PLATE BOUNDARIES. YOU WILL RECORD THESE
EXPERIMENTS AND THEIR OUTCOMES IN BOXES 9, 10, AND 11 ON YOUR LAB SHEET.
For each experiment be sure to include the following:
- Plate Types
- Plate Age
- Plate motion
- A diagram of what formed
- An observation of the results.
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F. WRAP UP AND CONCLUSION
1. CREATE A SET OF RULES WHEN IT COMES TO PLATE TECTONICS. (AT LEAST 4) These
rules must be as clear & simple as possible, and need to be based on your observations from the
simulation. Good Luck!
Completed Simulation – 15 pts!
Completed experiments -15 pts!
Completed rule set – 15 pts!