Transcript Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics
Study the location of the plates on the map below.
Complete the following activities &
questions/notes with a partner.
Record answers on notebook paper
when appropriate.
1. Circle the names of the 2 plates that
border the west coast of the U.S.?
2. Put an “X” on the plate that is made
almost entirely of ocean crust?
The RED dots below represent earthquakes. Study
the location of the earthquakes on the map below.
The RED dots below represent volcanoes. Study
the location of the volcanoes on the map below.
Based on the previous maps, make a
connection between plates,
earthquakes, and volcanoes.
3. What is the connection between plates,
earthquakes, and volcanoes?
(Record the question & answer on
notebook paper)
Click on the picture below to learn
more about earthquakes & answer the
questions on the next slide.
The Science of Earthquakes
(Record the questions & answers on notebook paper)
4. What causes an earthquake?
5. What makes the ground shake during an
earthquake?
6. What instrument is used to record
earthquakes?
7. Can scientists predict earthquakes?
Measuring the magnitude (size) of earthquakes
(Record the question & answer on notebook paper)
Click on the picture below to learn more about
earthquake magnitude.
Set the earthquake magnitude to the following numbers
and observe what happens. 3.2
6.1
8.9
8. What is the difference between a 3.2 and a 8.9
earthquake?
Below is an Earthquake Risk Map for the United
States. Study the diagram and answer the
questions on the following slide.
US Earthquake Risk
(Record the questions & answers on notebook paper)
9. Put an “X” on a state that has minimal to no
risk of an earthquake.
10. What state has the highest risk for an
earthquake? Why?
11. Pennsylvania has what type of risk for an
earthquake? (high, moderate, low, none)
Click on the seismogram to find some of the latest
earthquakes in the U.S. and the World.
Discuss the questions
Scroll down and click on the “Latest Earthquakes” link. This will
provide a map. Zoom out so you can see most of the U.S. Notice
where most of the earthquakes have happened in the U.S. Are
there any places that have had recent earthquakes that surprise
you? Why do you think Hawaii has so many earthquakes? Have
there been any earthquakes that have happened within the last
hour?
Click on a circle to get more information about the earthquake (such as the magnitudestrength)
Sumatra Tsunami 2004
Look/study the next few slides and answer the
reflection questions
Tsunami Waves
Banda
Aceh:
Before….
and
After…..
Tsunamis
12. How are tsunamis related to earthquakes?
13. What surprised you and your partner about
the slides you just viewed? Write 3-4
complete sentences about your thoughts.
Volcanoes
Click the image below to learn more about the
Ring of Fire.
Click “Enter”. In the lower right, click “Ring of Fire”
14. What is the Ring of Fire?
Volcanoes
Most volcanoes form at plate
boundaries like the image on
the left. Here the Juan de
Fuca (ocean crust) plate is
sinking beneath the North
American (continental crust)
plate. During subduction, the
crust melts into magma.
15. In one sentence, summarize
what is causing the volcanoes
on the northwest coast of the
U.S.
16. Other than Alaska and Hawaii, what 3
states have volcanoes?
17. Inferring: From looking at the picture,
how can one tell the volcanoes reach a
high elevation?
Mt. St. Helens, Following the 1980 Eruption
Mt. Mazama erupted in 4860 BC:
 42x larger than Mt. St. Helens
Crater Lake, Oregon
Hot Spots
Some volcanoes occur in
the middle of plates,
like Hawaii. Click the
image on the right to
view a simulation for
how “hotspot”
volcanoes form.
18. Summarize how
Hawaii formed.
19. What does Yellowstone National Park have to do with volcanoes?
Volcanic Eruptions
20. How can volcanic
eruptions have an
impact on Earth’s
climate?
21. What other ways can
volcanoes impact
Earth?
Google Earth
Search for the following on Google Earth:
•
San Andreas Fault (in California)
• Volcanoes in Hawaii
• Mount St. Helens (Washington)
• Mount Rainier (Washington)
Think about it: How are the volcanoes in
Hawaii different from the volcanoes in
the Cascade Mountains?
Current Event
Talk to the Text using the following symbols:
•
•  - I agree
•
- Make a connection
• ? – question
•
- I am thinking
•
- important
•
- good idea
Circle and look up words you do not know
•
Underlining does not count as talking to the text.
Chain Reaction
Complete the following in your journal:
Define:
•
fault
•
seismic waves
•
magma
•
aftershock
Chain Reaction
1.
In what region of the United States are the major
plate boundaries?
2. What are the signs of geological activity at those
boundaries?
3. How many earthquakes happen each year?
4. Why do you hear more about some earthquakes in the
news compared to others? (Example – the Chile
quake was much stronger than the Haiti quake, but
did not receive as much new coverage)
5. What are your thoughts: is there a connection
between earthquakes and volcanoes? Support your
opinion.