Name_______________________________ Name _____________________________
Plate Tectonics Simulation
Purpose: Explore E3.3A and E3.3B
Background Information
The main force that shapes our planet’s surface over long amounts of time is the
movement of Earth's outer layer by the process of plate tectonics.
The rigid outer layer of the Earth, called the lithosphere, is made of plates that fit together
like a jigsaw puzzle. These plates are made of rock, but the rock is, in general,
lightweight compared with the denser, fluid layer underneath. This allows the plates to
"float" on top of the denser material. The fluid dense material is called asthenosphere.
However, plates are not all the same. Plates made of continental crust are thicker but less
dense than plates made of ocean crust, which are denser but thinner.
Movements deep within the Earth, which carry heat from the hot interior to the cooler
surface, cause the plates to move very slowly on the surface, about 2 inches per year on
average. Interesting things happen at the edges of plates. At divergent plate boundaries,
rift valleys and spreading ridges form as plates pull away from each other. At convergent
plate boundaries, where plates are coming together, subduction zones form when an
oceanic plate and a continental plate collide and mountains build when two continental
plates collide. Large faults form when plates slide past each other making the Earth
tremble with earthquakes.
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You may use your materials, as your group would like.
Example uses may include:
Frosting = asthenosphere
Fruit roll up = oceanic plates (thin and dense)
Graham cracker = continental crust (thick and less dense)
Materials
 One large graham cracker
 One fruit roll up
 Frosting
 Wax paper
 Plastic spoon
You and a partner will turn in one lab sheet. Decide who will be the person
to create diagrams and who will be the person to write descriptions. Decide
together how you want to use the provided materials to accomplish this task.
Directions
1. You will be given a sheet of wax paper or paper plate and a scoop of frosting.
Start by spreading the frosting on the wax paper or paper plate, about a half a
centimeter thick.
2. Your group will have to model the different plate boundaries using the materials
given. Make sure you discuss with your group members first on what you want to
do, before starting.
3. As you work, draw a side view of the following features in the space provided and
give an explanation. Please use arrows and labels indicating what is happening
with written description as well.
Divergent boundary:
Continental-oceanic collision:
Continent-continental collision:
Transform plate boundaries:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Explain what causes the tectonic plates to move on top of the asthenosphere. Include
information about heat transfer and the densities of the layers in your explanation.
Illustrate your explanation.