Plate Tectonics and Faults Webquest

1. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml

On which tectonic plate do we live?

How many plates total do we have on Earth?

When was the theory of plate tectonics developed?

What is the speed of plate movement?

In the 60’s who first suggested that the seafloor spreads?

What were the two smaller supercontinents which were created when Pangaea broke up, called?

2. http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/unanswered.html

What did Harry Hess believe caused the plates to move?

Convection cannot take place without a ___________ of __________. What provides this energy on Earth?

Is Earth the only planet in our solar system with plate tectonics? Explain your answer:

3. What drives the plate motion? http://www.columbia.edu/~vjd1/driving_forces_basic.htm

Research “indicates that there are multiple convection cells beneath the Pacific plate.” How does this impact plate movement?

What does this source say is the most important force at play?

Explain ridge push:

Explain slab pull:

4. http://www.trinity.edu/gkroeger/geos1304/Notes/magmas.htm lots of info about magma and formation

What is magma?

What causes rock to melt?

Where do these mechanisms have their biggest impacts?

How does magma’s density compare to that of its parent rocks?

What is the difference between magma and lava?

Oceanic plate is destroyed by what?

Why can’t continental crust subduct?

5. http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/eoc/middle_school_t/t_tectonics/p_seafloor_spreading_2.html **go through the animation about seafloor spreading! Click through the numbers and letters, being sure to scroll down through all of the text.

What do mid-ocean ridges always mark?

What are the shallowest features of the ocean?

How does water impact plate tectonics?

6. http://www.passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/physics/divergent-boundaries.html

What is a rift valley?

How was the Red Sea formed?

7. http://www.whoi.edu/main/topic/trenches

What are ocean trenches?

How are they formed?

8. This question is optional - bonus points awarded if you can provide unique answers to the following questions: open a new tab and go to youtube. Type in national geographic deepest place on earth. The times should match. Or try this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JJVOg2xI4s)

How was the Mariana Trench first discovered? ( 0:00 -3:45)

How deep below the ocean’s surface is the deepest place on the ocean floor? ( 6:00 - 7:45)

The Mariana Trench is located on the Western side of a tectonic plate. What lies on the Eastern side of that same plate? (17:10 –20:00)

What makes up the zebra stripes? How fast is the seafloor spreading away from the ridges? (22:10 – 24:53)

How does the island chain shape compare to the trench’s shape? What process formed the volcanoes? What does water have to do with volcano formation? (28:35-30:40)

How many years ago did the Marianas Trench form? What plates were involved? (33:50 -34:30)

9. https://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0804/es0804page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization ***Go through animations!

Which boundary(ies) result in magma rising to the surface?

10. http://geology.com/nsta/convergent-plate-boundaries.shtml

What happens if material in a magma chamber rises without solidifying?

The Himalaya Mountain Range is an example of what type of boundary?

11. http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/science/9/chap2.htm NC’s barrier islands

In 1919, Johnson said that “the islands were formed as the ocean pushed up ridges of _______________________”

How did Holt later explain our island development?

Do scientists agree on how North Carolina barrier islands were formed? link not working at this time - skip

12. http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/animations/2 **Go through animations!

Fault motions in Normal Faults are caused by what?