Download plate boundaries and interactions worksheet

Plate Boundaries and Interactions
Integrated Science 4
4/16
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The earth’s lithosphere is broken into multiple pieces, tectonic plates. According to the Theory of Plate Tectonics, these
tectonic plates are in constant motion due to convection of the upper mantle. The points where two plates meet are
referred to as plate boundaries. Different types of plate boundaries are created as plates drift away from or into one
another. Each type of plate boundary has its own characteristic features, geologic structures on earth’s surface, helping
geologists interpret what is happening below.
Overview of Plate Boundary Interactions
The diagram below illustrates plate boundary interactions and convection currents responsible for plate movement. The
two basic types of plate interactions are divergent and convergent. Two plates are moving away from one another at
divergent plate boundaries. Two plates are moving toward one another, coming together, at convergent plate boundaries.
Procedures
For Parts 1-3, use the diagrams and word banks provided to review the upper-layers of the earth, and to become familiar
with the various plate boundary interactions and surface features associated with them. Refer to pages 644 – 658 in your
Integrated Science textbook
Part 1. Divergent Plate Boundaries
Label the following on the diagram below: easy: continental crust, oceanic crust, oceanic ridge, rift, magma
challenging: mantle, lithosphere
Part 2. Convergent Plate Boundaries
1. Oceanic-Continental Plate Boundary
Label the following on the diagram below: lithosphere, asthenosphere, continental crust, oceanic crust, subducting
oceanic lithosphere, melting (magma), volcanic arc, trench
2. Oceanic-Oceanic Plate Boundary
Label the following on the diagram below: asthenosphere, melting, volcanic island arc, trench, subducting oceanic
lithosphere, oceanic crust, continental crust
3. Continental-Continental Plate Boundary
Label the following on the diagram below: lithosphere, asthenosphere, continental crust, non-volcanic mountain range,
suture, oceanic plate
Part 3. Transform Plate Boundaries
An additional plate boundary that has not yet been mentioned is a transform, or sliding plate boundary. These plate
boundaries are associated with cracks in the earth’s lithosphere created by diverging and converging plates. The San
Andreas Fault is a famous local example of a transform plate boundary.
Label the following on the diagram to the right below: transform plate boundary (2), divergent plate boundary (2),
convergent plate boundary (2)
Analysis
Read pages 623- 629 in your Integrated Science textbook. Answer the questions below.
1.
How do the physical properties of the earth’s interior (temperature, pressure and density) change from the core to the
surface?
2.
Describe how seismic waves are used by scientists to determine the structure and composition of the earth’s interior.
3.
Define convection. What layers of the earth are convective? How does this process work?
Earthquake and volcanic activity is indicative of plate boundary interactions. Using the map below and your Integrated
Science textbook pages 646 – 647 locate, carefully draw and label the tectonic plates.