Science.8
Essential Questions
1.
How do natural events illustrate plate tectonic movement?
Vocabulary latitude, longitude, volcano, earthquake, plate tectonics,
plate boundary, tectonic plate
Name ______________________________
Date _______________________________
Objectives
1.
Use data to map the location of selected plate tectonic events.
2.
Infer the relationship between tectonic plate events and the location of plate boundaries.
Goal: In this investigation, you will map the location of selected earthquakes and volcanoes, and then compare their locations to those of the tectonic plates. You will also infer whether or not a relationship exists among earthquakes, volcanoes and tectonic plates.
Materials:
Procedures: lab sheets, world map, colored pencils and text
Notice:
1.
Find a map in a textbook or online which shows the tectonic plate boundaries “Understanding
Earth” Book or online sources. Copy the boundaries carefully onto your map using a green pencil.
2.
The data table lists the locations, by latitude and longitude, of several volcanoes. Plot each location on your map using a red pencil.
3.
The data table lists the locations, by latitude and longitude, of several earthquakes. Plot each location on your map using a blue pencil.
Pay close attention to east and west – they are opposite to a “normal” map. This map has
the Pacific Ocean in the center – east will be on the left of the International Date Line and
west on the right.
Questions: 1. Describe any pattern you see in the location of the earthquakes you plotted.
2.
Which ocean has volcanoes occurring in a ring on the continents surrounding it?
What is the feature called?
3.
Oceanic ridge systems tend to occur in mid-ocean regions. Which of the plotted volcanoes occurs along such a system?
Conclusion: 1. Is there a relationship among earthquakes, volcanoes and tectonic plates? ___________
If so, what is it?
2. Based on your map, where might you expect future earthquakes to occur?

5° S
15° S
35° S
40° S
10° S
5° S
30° S
55° S
5° S
10° S
5° S
15° S
45° N
30° N
55° N
40° N
17° N
55° N
25° N
35° N
32° N
12° N
20° N
0°
65° N
40° N
Volcanoes
(use red pencil)
60° N
45° N
25.
26.
27.
28.
21.
22.
23.
24.
17.
18.
19.
20.
13.
14.
15.
16.
7.
8.
5.
6.
3.
4.
1.
2.
9.
10.
11.
12.
15° E
60° E
160° E
145° E
155° E
120° E
105° E
60° E
120° E
140° E
70° W
25° W
80° W
75° W
70° W
75° W
150° W
120° W
105 ° W
75° W
15° W
30° W
25° W
160° W
107° W
140° E
120° E
120° E
45° N
32° N
20° N
10° N
37° N
35° N
20° N
60° N
50° S
10° S
5° S
0°
55° N
50° N
50° N
45° N
50° N
40° N
15° N
15° N
Earthquakes
(use blue pencil)
60° N
45° N
35° N
30° N
30° N
20° N
25° S
50° S
100° E
105° W
140° W
130° W
160° W
170° W
122° W
120° W
60° E
75° W
158° E
145° E
150° W
125° W
35° E
115° W
115° E
70° W
70° W
105° E
150° E
80° W
100° W
170° E
140° E
135° E
75° W
75° W
16.
17.
18.
19.
12.
13.
14.
15.
8.
9.
10.
11.
6.
7.
4.
5.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
1.
2.
3.