Name_____________________________________________Date_____________Per________ST#_____
PLATE TECTONICS INTERNET ACTIVITY & Test Review
“DYNAMIC EARTH”
A. Go to the following website: http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/index.html
B. Click on Dynamic Earth
C. Follow the directions, read the information, and examine the pictures to help fill out this information
sheet. The more complete and accurate you fill out this sheet, the better you will be prepared to take the test
at the end of this activity. This information also corresponds with Ch. 6 in your book.
EARTH’S STRUCTURE – What’s Inside The Earth?
1. What did scientists study to help learn more about the earth’s interior? (this will be our next topic in
science)
PLATE TECTONICS
1. What do we call the landmass in the picture on the left?
2. Wegeners’ book was published in _____________ and was called ___________________
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3. Approximately when did Pangaea begin to break up?
4. India and Asia began to collide about _____________ ma ago. Why did I write “began”, or in other
words, what current evidence to support plate tectonics is related to their collision?
5. What is Pangaea Ultima?
6. What must happen to the current paths of the U.S. and China in order to make this model of Pangaea
Ultima?
PLATES & BOUNDARIES
1. What is the border between two tectonic plates called?
2. Name the three main boundary types found on our maps, draw a picture, describe the movement, and give
an example from our map project:
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Drawing
Drawing
Description
Description
Description
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Place
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Drawing
3. What type of boundary runs the length of the Atlantic Ocean? What island nation is split by this
boundary and what would it be called while it’s on land?
4. Why does the Pacific Ocean have a Ring of Fire while the Atlantic Ocean does not?
SLIP, SLIDE & COLLIDE
Convergent Boundaries:
1A. Three types of crustal interactions can occur at a convergent boundary, name them and explain their
similarities and differences.
1B. At which of the 3 types of convergent boundaries is it possible to not have very much subduction?
Explain why this happens, using the Himalayas as an example.
2A. At an oceanic-oceanic convergent boundary, one plate is often subducted under the other plate, explain
why this happens
2B. At which of the 3 types of convergent boundaries is a Subduction Zone with a deep underwater ditch in
the earth often formed?
3. This question had the same answer as 2B, so I deleted it.
4. What are at least 3 topographic items of interest that may get created as the ocean crust sinks in 2B?
5. What is the seismic evidence to support the claim that the ocean crust is forced deep into the earth in
example 2B?
6. What is the volcanic evidence to support the claim that the ocean crust is forced deep into the earth in
example 2B?
7. How are Island Arcs created? (types of crust and what happens)
8. Name two examples of island arcs from our maps:
9. Label the diagram:
10. Explain (don’t just state it, explain it) whether or not all of the islands in picture#9 are always volcanic
in origin.
Divergent Boundaries:
1. Describe the basic characteristics of divergent boundaries and explain why they don’t have earthquakes at
maximum depths like those of the ocean trench convergent boundary you used on your part of the map.
2. What is Sea-Floor Spreading?
3. What is a Rift?
4. Make a Venn diagram to describe the similarities and differences between a rift and a mid-ocean ridge
(separate paper)
Transform Boundaries:
1. Describe what happens at a transform boundary:
2. What is a fault?
3. What main geological event is created by transform boundaries?
4. Why do you think transform boundaries have faults named “strike-slip faults”?
5. There is a transform boundary in California. What is its name?
6. Find and then use a chart on the same paper as the Venn to list the name, date and focus depth for three
very large (at least MMS 6) earthquakes that have occurred along this fault in California.
1)
2)
3)
7. Explain why these earthquakes are not found several hundred miles down into the earth.
Plate Tectonics Test Review Sheet – no website for this part, but use the
Quizlet! “Mr. C's MACAT Approved Plate Tectonics Vocab”
In addition to the definitions you put into your notes while reading “Plate Tectonics”, these
questions need to be answered in your tests/quizzes section of your binder to get ready for the test,
but will not be checked, since I’ll be checking the test itself. Ask questions if you need help!
PART A – Plate Tectonic Definitions – Use separate paper!!!
Below are various plate tectonic terms that must be mastered in order to perform successfully on the test:
1. Continental Drift Hypothesis (who/what/how it differs from current plate tectonics theory)
2. Paleomagnetism (from book and lab – with magnetometer and magnetic reversals)
3. Boundaries (2 locations near the US, characteristics, results/specific examples like mountains, trenches,
volcanoes, be able to draw and label them, too – see part B of this sheet):
a) divergent boundary
b) convergent boundary
c) transform boundary
4. Crustal interactions (o-o, o-c, c-c) – indicate which boundaries they occur at and how they impact
earthquake depth, plus surface features (topography) of the earth
5. Subduction zone
6. Ocean trench (cause and results)
7. San Andreas Fault Zone (type of boundary, results in . . .)
8. Convection (mantle and outer core – results in . . .)
9. Hot spot (Hawaii, and what makes it different than island arcs)
10. Slab pull and ridge push (the latest view on plate tectonic movement)
11. Pangaea (when did it exist, what is the evidence we see today, will it happen again)
12. If Alaska is moving at 11cm per year, how far can it be expected to move in a million years? (Also
other questions of the same sort from your log questions on the latest plans.)
PART B- Identification of plate boundaries and crustal interactions
You should be able to draw a diagram that illustrates each plate boundary. Check things off as you work:
 label all pertinent characteristics
 color the various characteristics
 indicate the types of crust involved
 describe the differences in earthquake depths at the plate boundaries due to the specific types
of crustal interaction
 identify at least two geographical regions that represent your plate boundary.
 Use text information from this review and other text book sources.
1) Divergent Boundary – 2 types, with names [O-O), (C-C)]
2) Convergent Boundary – 3 types! [(O-O), (O-C), (C-C)]
3) Transform Boundary (use San Andreas Fault in southern California for an example)
PART C – Earthquakes and plate boundaries
Using the website from the ANSS (http://quake.geo.berkeley.edu/anss/maps/cnss-depth.html), look at
the locations of the earthquakes that are shown and detail which types of earthquakes are found at
each type of plate boundary.
1) Click in the blue box around Japan.
2) Look at the image that comes up and describe what happens to the quakes as you move from
east to west (B to A) along the green line.
3) What is the name of the trench illustrated in this set of graphs?
4) Look at the graph on the bottom left. Why is the top of the graph green?
5) What is the deepest depth of all of the quakes?
6) What depth has the most quakes?
7) Why is the deepest quake left off of the graph on the right?
PART D –Plate Tectonics - Critical Thinking Questions
1. What evidence do scientists observe or look for when proposing the convection hypothesis for the
movement of continents?
2. Investigate what the Ring of Fire represents (not from the Johnny Cash song or a particularly
distressing episode of diarrhea). Which tectonic plates and boundary types are involved?
Where is the Ring of Fire located?
3. How is plate tectonic theory used in science classes to determine the age of the earth?
4. Using the steps in a scientific method, how did scientists formulate the theory of plate tectonics? In
other words, what observations led to hypotheses, experiments, and, finally, a theory?
5. What evidence do you think scientists use to determine the motion of the North American and Pacific
plates along the San Andreas Fault?