Plate Boundaries and Movement - Understanding Convection Currents

Which part of plate tectonics does the candle represent?

heat from Earth's core

In what type of plate boundary did a river change its path?

transform boundary

In this lab, you modeled how plates move. The plates that make up Earth's lithosphere move because of ? You also saw how plates interact with each other. The interactions between plates form plate ? of which there are three main types.

1. convection 2. boundaries

Which statement best summarizes the information in the paragraph?

Different types of plate interactions result in earthquakes of varying strengths at various depths.

How did the lab activities help you answer the lesson question: What effect does plate movement have on geologic events and structures at Earth's surface? What did you learn from conducting this lab?

In the lab, I observed how convection moves Earth's plates. I also saw how plates interact with each other. When plates move apart from each other at divergent boundaries, magma from the mantle reaches Earth's surface and new crust forms. When plates move toward each other at convergent boundaries, volcanoes, mountains, and trenches form. When the plates rub against each other at transform boundaries, earthquakes may occur. Plate movements may change the shape of Earth's surface and cause geologic events such as earthquakes.

How is the behavior of food coloring in the cool and heated water different? What caused the differences in their behavior?

The food coloring in cool water remained at the bottom of the container. The food coloring in the heated water rose to the top and then moved to the sides of the container. It then sank to the bottom of the container. The behavior of the food coloring was caused by the movement of heat through the water and the formation of convection currents. The warmer water is less dense, so it rises to the surface. This was observed as the food coloring rising to the top of the container. At the surface, the water cools and becomes denser so the food coloring sank toward the bottom of the container creating convection currents.

How did the convection model show how Earth's mantle moves Earth's plates?

The water carried the pieces of paper to the sides of the container.

Which part of plate tectonics does the movement of food coloring represent?

convection currents

The volcano in the image is called Ol Doinyo Lengai. This volcano formed as a result of two plates separating. Which other type of plate boundary forms volcanoes?

convergent

In what type of plate boundary did mountains form?

convergent boundary

In what type of plate boundary did subduction occur?

convergent boundary

In what type of plate boundary did volcanoes form?

convergent boundary

Which events most likely occurred at the boundary between the South American Plate and the Nazca Plate? Check all that apply.

destruction of crust formation of a trench subduction of one plate

Which type of boundary is in Area A?

divergent

In what type of plate boundary did new crust form?

divergent boundary

Which part of plate tectonics do the pieces of paper represent?

earth's plates

What happens in the circled area?

occurrence of earthquakes

Which feature formed in Area A?

rift valleys