Download Plate Tectonics Webquest

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Plate Tectonics Webquest
Directions: Go to the websites listed below. Answer the questions and fill in
the blanks that correspond with each website.
Websites:
Site 1:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth
/Continents.shtml
Site 2: http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/plate.html
Site 3: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/
Site 4:
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/e
s1001/es1001page02.cfm
Site 5: http://www.tasagraphicarts.com/activities/Plates.html
Site 1 Information:
Watch the animated continental drift image and make note of how the
continents have moved over time!!
1. How many major plates are there?
2. List the names of the major tectonic plates.
3. The theory of plate tectonics explains the movement of Earth’s
____________________ and also explains the causes of
_______________________________, ___________________________________,
________________________________, ___________________________________,
and many other geologic phenomenon.
4. What is the estimated speed at which plates move annually?
5. Where does most of the Earth’s seismic activity occur?
6. The top layer of the Earth’s surface is called the ___________________
7. Which type of crust is denser?
continental crust
(circle one)
oceanic crust
or
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Plate Tectonics Webquest
8. Draw an illustration of the outer layers of the Earth. Label the
following: oceanic crust, continental crust, mantle, lithosphere,
asthenosphere.
Types of Plate Movements – fill in the information from Website 1 to
complete the notes on plate movements.
 Divergent Plate Movement
9. “_____________________________________________ is the movement of
two oceanic plates away from each other (at a _________________________
plate boundary), which results in the formation of new
__________________________________________ … along a mid-ocean
______________________. Where the oceanic plates are moving away from
each other is called a _____________________________________.”
 Convergent Plate Movement
10. “When two plates collide (at a ____________________________ plate
boundary), some crust is destroyed in the impact and the plates become
_______________________. The results differ, depending upon what types
of plates are involved.”
11. Describe what happens when an oceanic plate collides with a
continental plate.
12. Describe what happens when two oceanic plates collide.
13. Describe what happens when two continental plates collide.

Lateral Slipping Plate Movement
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Plate Tectonics Webquest
14. “When two plates move sideways against each other (at a
________________________plate boundary), there is a tremendous amount
of friction which makes the movement jerky. The plates slip, then stick
as the friction and pressure build up to incredible levels. When the
pressure is released suddenly, and the plates suddenly jerk apart, this is
an ________________________________.”
Site 2 Information:
15. Use arrows to draw an illustration of how plates move at a
convergent boundary.
List two examples of convergent plate boundaries.
16. Use arrows to draw an illustration of how plates move at a divergent
boundary.
List two examples of divergent plate boundaries.
17. Use arrows to draw an illustration of how plates move at a
transform boundary.
List two examples of transform plate boundaries.
18. Click on the Plates and Boundaries Challenge.
See how many plates and boundary types you can label correctly.
Site 3 Information:
19. What is the time and number of earthquakes recorded on this map?
Time_______________________________
Number of earthquakes_____________
20. How many earthquakes have occurred within the last hour?
21. Click on the United States on the map. How many earthquakes
have occurred in the U.S. in the last hour, and day?
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Plate Tectonics Webquest
Hour______________________
Day__________________________
22. Where do most of the earthquakes occur in the U.S.?
Site 4 Information
Answer the questions that are in blue on each slide.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Site 5:
If time permits – go to site # 5 and quiz yourself. See if you can put the
plates in the correct position.