BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
Unit 10 ~ Learning Guide
Name: ____________
INSTRUCTIONS
Using a pencil, complete the following practice questions as you work through the
related lessons. You are required to have this package completed BEFORE you write
your unit test. Do your best and ask questions about anything that you don't understand
BEFORE you write the unit test.
10.1 NOTES: EVIDENCE FOR CONTINENTAL DRIFT
General Information
Early maps of the world caused Wegener to propose the continental drift theory.

The continents looked as though they might fit together like ________________
_________________________.
o The ______________________________ actually fit together even better.

the original supercontinent was named ______________________ by Wegener.

Wegener also realized that other evidence also supported his theory:
o There were matching _________________________________ and rocks
on different continents.
o There were matching _________________________, like Mesosaurus,
on different continents.
o There was evidence of different _________________ having previously
existed such as evidence of ____________________________________
_________________________________
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
How Can Continents Move?
Wegener’s evidence for continental drift did not explain how entire continents could
change locations.

New ___________________________________ allowed scientists to measure
the _____________________________________ of Earth’s tectonic plates.

It was also noted that _________________________________________ appear
in certain patterns along the edges of tectonic plates.

Mapping
of
the
ocean
floor
also
revealed
the
________________________________, a long mountain range running down
the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
o Rocks taken from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge were ______________________
than other ocean rocks.
o Sediments along the ridge became ______________________ farther
away from the ridge.

___________________________________ shows that iron-based rocks along
the ridges are striped with reversing magnetic fields
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
Spreading of the Sea Floor
Hess suggested that magma rose to form new rock at certain places:

Magma (melted rock) rises and falls just like any warm and cold liquids creating
currents called ________________________________.

The convection currents of magma formed a _________________________
where they broke through Earth’s crust.
o Like a “new crust” ___________________________
o ____________________________________ of basalt rock shows long
stripes of new rock moving away from ocean ridges and also reveals the
direction of Earth’s magnetic field at that time.
Wilson then unified the ideas of Wegener and Hess into the plate tectonic theory
including explaining that:

Continental drift occurs because of areas such as ________________________
and _____________________________ push/move the tectonic plates floating
on Earth’s surface.
o Geologic hot spots are anywhere ________________________________
___________________________________.
.
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
10.1 PRACTICE: EVIDENCE FOR CONTINENTAL DRIFT
1. Complete the word search and practice quiz.
2. Identify and discuss four lines of evidence that lead to Alfred Wegener to propose
the Continental Drift Theory. (4 marks)
3. Wegener's theory was not immediately accepted as he could not explain how
continents could move.
a. Identify and explain what modern scientists believe to be the driving force
behind plate tectonic movement. (2 marks)
b. Identify and discuss three modern lines of evidence that support the idea
that tectonic plates are moving. (3 marks)
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
4. Complete Check your Understanding 10.1
10.2 NOTES: FEATURES OF PLATE TECTONICS
General Information
Earth is over _____________________________ and has ___________ distinct layers.

These layers are the crust, mantle (upper and lower), outer core, and inner core.
o Crust: ____________________________________________ (granite on
land, basalt in oceans)
o Mantle: _____________________________________________ except
for upper mantle being able to flow like “thick toothpaste”
o Outer core: _________________________________________________
______________________________
o Inner core: ___________________________________, at tremendous
____________________________ and _______________________
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
Tectonic plates make up the _______________________________, which floats on the
_______________________________________.

The lithosphere is the ______________________________________________
________________________________________________.

The asthenosphere is the ___________________________________________
_________________________________________.
o Heat
to
keep
the
asthenosphere
molten
comes
from
____________________________________________________.
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
Continents, attached to the tectonic plates,
__________________________________.
float
in
the
magma
of
the

As magma is heated in the asthenosphere, ___________________________
_____________________________ form.

Rising magma can reach the surface at __________________ (in the oceans) or
______________________ (on land).
o The magma cools when it reaches the surface, solidifies, and is pushed
aside as new magma pushes from below. This is called ______________
____________________.
Tectonic plates are all moving at the same time.

There are _____________ large tectonic plates and ______________ smaller
ones.

Where continental and oceanic plates meet, ____________________________
occurs.
o the denser oceanic plate ____________________________ the lighter
continental plate.
 by “________________________” the rest of the plate follows

Large earthquakes and volcanoes are found in _________________________
_______________.
Plate Interactions
A ________________________________ is an area where two plates are in contact.
The way the plates interact is based on the type of plate and the direction the plates are
moving relative to each other. There are 3 types of plate boundaries:

_________________ plate boundaries – areas where plates are spreading apart

_________________ plate boundaries – areas where plates meet

_________________ plate boundaries – areas where plates move past each
other
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
1. Divergent plate boundaries are areas where plates
are _____________________________.
 _________________________________ and
_________________________ are examples.
 The _________________________________
is the longest mountain range on Earth.
2. Convergent plate boundaries are areas where plates _____________________.
a. _________________________________________ plate convergence
 The
oceanic
plate
_________________ under
the
continental
plate,
forming a _____________.

______________________
volcanoes can form from
magma seeping to the
surface.
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015

This is how the volcanic belt of the _________________________
______________________________ has formed.

Mountain ranges like the _____________________________
range also form from the collision.

_________________________________
subduction, ridge push, and slab pull stall.
can
occur
when
b. __________________________________________ plate convergence

The cooler, denser plate will
______________________
under the less dense plate.

Convergence may produce
a ____________________
______________________,
such as those found in
____________________, Indonesia, and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
c. ___________________________________________ plate convergence

Since both are continental
plates, their ____________
______________________.

As they collide, their edges
fold and crumple, forming
______________________
______________________.

The ___________________ are the world’s youngest (and tallest)
mountain range, formed as Asia and Africa plates collided 40
million years ago.

They are still __________________________________.
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
3. _________________________ plate boundaries are where
plates move past each other.

Usually are found
__________________

Since rock slides past rock, ___________________
or ________________________ form.

______________________________ and faults are
very common.
near
_________________
Earthquakes often form from ______________________________________________
__________________________________.

This accounts for ________________________________ of all earthquakes.

The ____________________________________________ plate boundary west
of Vancouver Island has many earthquakes.
o Large earthquakes hit this region every ___________________________
________________________.
Describing Earthquakes
Earthquakes are very difficult to predict.

Scientists understand _______________ they happen, but it is very difficult to
predict their ______________________________________________________.

Their ______________________ build-up happens underground, over very long
periods of time.

What we do understand has helped us to ______________________________
________________________________.

The ___________________ of the earthquake is where the pressure is finally
released.

The ____________________ is the point on the surface directly above the focus.
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015

Earthquakes occur at ______________________________, depending on the
plates involved.
o Earthquakes at the ____________________ tend to cause ___________
_________________________.
Earthquakes produce _____________________ waves.

________________________________ is the study of these waves.

These waves reveal the ___________________________________________ of
an earthquake.

They also help us learn about the composition and distances of the
_____________________________________________.

Types of earthquake waves include:

Seismic waves behave ____________________________________________
______________________________________
o Knowing this, scientists can learn about earthquakes and Earth’s interior.
Seismometers are _______________________________________________________
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
_____________________________________________

Early seismometers just measured whether the __________________________.

Some seismometers measure horizontal movement, others vertical movement.
o A ____________________________ is produced, showing ____________
and earthquake started, how ________________ it lasted and the
_______________________________
o ________ increase in magnitude = ____________ stronger
 A magnitude 6 earthquake is _______________ more powerful
than a magnitude 4.
o Since
seismic
waves
travel
at
different
speeds,
a
_______________________________ graph can __________________
______________________.
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
Volcanoes
The movement of tectonic plates causes volcano formation. There are 3 key types of
volcanoes:
1. ____________________________________ – found along plate boundaries
 Layers of ash and thick lava form a ___________________________.
 As magma reaches the surface, it cools, hardens and
__________________________________________.
 Pressure builds; eventually, ____________________________________
___________________.
2. _______________________________ – these are not found at plate boundaries
but instead form over hot spots.
 __________________ magma/lava flows out from a hot spot and forms a
________________________________________.
 _____________________________________________ are an example
of a chain of shield volcanoes.
3. _____________________________ – occur along long cracks in the lithosphere
 These are ____________________________, but they release
________________________________ of lava
Mount St. Helens pictured below is a composite volcano.
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
10.2 Activities
Instructions:
1. Complete the Plate Interactions Challenge.
Attach it here.
Do a screenshot of your result.
2. Complete the 10.2 Check Your Understanding.
3. Access and complete Virtual Earthquake (LAB). You may answer the questions
in the space provided below however, you will need to access the earthquake
simulation from the website.
a. Read all intro information and then state which region you chose:
b. Record the time at each station in the table below (also remember to type it
in the boxes on the webpage or you will not be able to continue on).
Station Number
Time btw S and P waves (sec)
1
2
3
c. Find and record the distance at each station by reading it from the bottom of
the S-P graph. (record on website also)
Station Number
S-P Interval
(same as above)
Epicenter Distance
(km)
1
2
3
d. Click on “View True Epicenter” and record the actual measurements in the
table below:
Station Number
S-P Interval
(same as above)
1
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Epicenter Distance
(km)
BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
2
3
e. Name the closest town to your epicenter:
This portion of the lab is all that is required however,
you may continue on to find the magnitude for your own interests.
2. Compare and contrast primary waves, secondary waves and surface waves
(also known as Love waves). (6 marks)
3. The Richter scale is used to describe the magnitude (strength/size) of an
Earthquake:
a. Each whole number increase on the Richter scale represents a
________________ increase in earthquake strength/size. (1 mark)
b. How many times stronger/bigger is a magnitude 8 earthquake
compared to a magnitude 2 earthquake? (1 mark)
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
4. P waves travel faster than S waves, thus the S-P time interval can be used to
determine how ____________________________ the focus of an
earthquake is from a seismometer. The larger the S-P interval the
_______________________________ the focus occurred from the
seismometer. (2 marks)
5. Compare and contrast composite volcanoes, shield volcanoes and rift
eruptions. (6 marks)
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BCLN SCIENCE 10 – Rev May - 2015
6. Complete the Unit 10 Review.
Unit 10 Learning Guide Answer Key
10.1 – Evidence for Continental Drift
2) directly from online notes, 3) a. Discuss how the new crust conveyor belt works, b.
discuss magnetic striping, hot spots and sea floor spreading.
10.2 – Features of Plate Tectonics
1) a-b. answers directly from activity, c. Continental crust since it is less dense, 2) a.
Oceanic crust since it is more dense, b. trench, c. convergent, d. composite and explain,
e. answers will vary, 3) a ridge, b. divergent, c. new crust formation, d. answers will
vary, 4) a. trench, b, convergent, c. more dense, volcanos, d. answers will vary, 5)
answers will vary, 6-7) directly from notes, 8)b. 1,000,000x, 9) far away, further, 10)
directly from the notes.
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