Earth Science
Name: ___________________________
Period: _____ Date: ________________
How Do Scientists Determine the Boundaries of the Earth’s Plates?
Scientists discovered that when the locations of earthquakes were plotted on a
world map, these locations occurred in a pattern, or a variety of patterns. These patterns
led scientists to believe that the Earth’s crust is divided into different sections, or plates.
The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth’s lithosphere is broken into moving
plates. Six of the seven major continental plates are named for the continents where they
are located. The seventh continental plate, the Nazca Plate, is located between the South
American and Pacific Plates. By plotting the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes,
scientists have been able to locate the plate boundaries and predict the movement of the
plates. In this investigation, the locations of the earthquakes and volcanoes will be
plotted and the boundaries of the Earth’s plates will be determined.
Directions: Below are six coordinate lists of geographic coordinates of earthquakes.
Plot the location of each earthquake on the map provided by placing a dot where the
longitude and latitude coordinates intersect. Connect the dots in order for each list. Do
not connect the dots as you change from list to list.
Coordinate List #1
Latitude
75N
70 N
60 N
55 N
45 N
35 N
20 N
15 N
0
15 S
30 S
40 S
45 S
55 S
60 S
40 S
35 S
45 S
50 S
Longitude
0
15 W
29 W
30 W
40 W
40 W
40 W
30 W
20 W
20 W
20 W
28 W
30 W
40 W
60 W
90 W
120 W
135 W
150 W
MHS ES 4/4/2011
Coordinate List #2
Latitude
35 N
35 N
35 N
35 N
30 N
25 N
10 N
5N
10 S
30 S
48 S
50 S
47 S
Longitude
30 W
10 W
0
15 E
30 E
40 E
45 E
60 E
70 E
45 E
30 E
0
20 W
Coordinate List #3
Latitude
15 N
15 N
15 N
Longitude
55 W
65 W
75 W
Coordinate List #4
Coordinate List #5
Coordinate List #6
Latitude
50 N
55 N
45 N
30 N
20 N
15 N
5N
15 S
30 S
45 S
Latitude
60 N
55 N
45 N
30 N
15 N
0
10 S
15 S
30 S
50 S
55 S
50 S
40 S
20 S
15 S
Latitude
30 N
30 N
30 N
20 N
15 N
0
5S
Longitude
170 W
150 W
125 W
115 W
105 W
90 W
75 W
70 W
75 W
75 W
Longitude
180 E
150 E
130 E
125 E
120 E
120 E
135 E
160 E
165 E
160 E
135 E
110 E
80 E
75 E
65 E
Longitude
45 E
60 E
75 E
90 E
95 E
105 E
120 E
Listed below are the major continental plates that scientists have identified. The
continental plates are named after the continent that the plate is located.
Write the names of the plates and color them according to the key below.
Plate name
South American
African
North American
Eurasian
Nazca
Antarctic
Pacific
Indian-Australian
2/16/16
Color
Orange
Yellow
Blue
Pink
Purple
Green
White
Red
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Plate boundaries
Plate Tectonics
Name ____________________
Hour ______
Activity: How Do Scientists Determine the Boundaries of the
Earth’s Plates?
1. Look at the map that you have just completed. What do the lines that you
plotted represent?
___________________________________________________________
2. Listed below are six of the seven major continental plates that scientists
have identified. The continental plates are named after the continent that
is located on the plate.
 Write the names of the following continental plates in the proper
places on your map. The seventh major plate, the Nazca Plate is
identified for you.
North American Plate
South American Plate
African Plate
Eurasian Plate
Indo-Australian Plate
Antarctic Plate
2. Plate Boundaries move in different directions. The movement of two
plates creates natural formations like mountains and valleys. Label the
map with arrows showing direction of plate movement.
3. How have earthquakes helped geologist identify major plates on the
earth?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4. Why is knowing the location of plate boundaries important?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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Plate boundaries
5. What might occur as a result of the sliding boundaries?
_______________________________
6. What is the relationship of the Ring of Fire to the Pacific plate?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
7. Where are the most earthquakes, volcanoes and mountains located in
relationship to the lithospheric plates?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2/16/16
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Plate boundaries