LAB: CANDY TECTONICS
READ THIS FIRST:
The rigid upper part of the mantle and the crust is called the lithosphere. The lithosphere is
broken into plates that move around on the asthenosphere. The Earth's crust is thin and greatly affected by the
movement of the plates. In this activity, you will use Snickers bars to illustrate the movement of these plates,
also known as plate tectonics.
PRE LAB:
Matching
Directions: Write the letter of the correct definition beside the numbered vocabulary term.
_ _ 1. Plate Tectonics
_ _2. Crust
__ 3. Tension
_ _ 4. Fault
___5. Plates
___6. Asthenosphere
__ 7. Shearing
__8. Compression
a. The pulling stress that moves apart plates.
b. Sections of the lithosphere that move on the asthenosphere.
c. The breaking of rock layers due to faulting.
d. Stress in rock fractures that causes movement to occur in opposite directions.
e. Theory that explains the movement of Earth's plates.
f. The pushing stress that moves plates together.
g. The plastic like part of the mantle on which plates move.
h. Earth's outermost laver.
Labeling
Use the word bank to the right to label Earth’s layers. This will help you understand what each part of the
candy bar represents.
Word Bank
1. Earth’s Crust
2. Earth’s Upper Mantle
3. Earth’s Lower Mantle & Core
LAB:
Before beginning this lab you must wash your hands!
1. Using your fingernail, make a few breaks in the “crust” on the top of the candy bar.
2. Record your observations in the box below:
What to the cracks represent?________________________
A. Plate moving apart=tension=divergent boundary
Gently pull the edges of the bar apart. This is tension. As the “plates” move apart, you should
see caramel which is the asthenosphere. Draw your observations below and write what you observed.
B. Plates sliding past eachother= shearing= transform boundary
Push the “plates” back together, then slide one half of the candy bar forward and the other half
backwards. This is called shearing. Draw your observations below. Also, write what you observed.
C. Plates move together= compression= convergent boundary
Place the halves, in their original position. Then, push both ends of the candy bar together. This is
called compression. You should notice the “plates” colliding and possible see one plate slide over the
top of another. Draw your observations below. Also, write what you observed.
STRESS TEST! (fill in the empty column with the correct type of stress)
Type of Movement
Type of Stress?
The pulling apart of plates
The sliding of plates past each other
The pushing together of plates