PLATE TECTONICS

INTRODUCTION:
Plate tectonics shape earths surface. The rigid outer layer of earth, called the lithosphere, is made of
plates that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. These plates are made of rock, but the rock is, in general,
lightweight compared with the denser, fluid layer underneath. This allows the plates to "float" on top
of the denser material. The fluid dense material is called asthenosphere. Howeer, plates are not all
the same. Plates made of continental crust are thicker but less dense than plates made of ocean crust,
which are denser but thinner.
!t diergent plate boundaries, rift alleys and spreading ridges form as plates pull away from each
other. !t conergent plate boundaries plates come together forming subduction zones when an
oceanic plate and a continental plate collide and mountains build when two continental plates collide.
"arge faults form when plates slide past each other creating transform boundaries.
PROBLEM/PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this e#periment is to learn how the earths tectonic plates $lithosphere% ride atop the
slow flowing asthenosphere layer. The objectie is to understand how plates interact at their
boundaries.
HYPOTHESIS:
$&nowing the definition of conergent, diergent, and transform plate boundaries, what do you think
will happen when different crusts collide'%
MATERIALS:
() inches of wa# paper
*cing
) +ruit ,oll -ps, may need to refrigerate if soft.warm
) /raham crackers hales
0ater, in cup large enough to dip graham crackers
&nife or other tool to spread icing
PROCEDURE:
(. 1ake the model
a. "ay wa# paper flat on table.
b. Put large dollop of frosting on wa# paper.
c. -se knife to spread frosting into a thin layer $asthenosphere%.
). 2iergent plate boundary
a. Place two s3uares of fruit roll up $oceanic plates, thinner, denser% onto the frosting right ne#t
to each other.
b. 0here fruit roll ups meet, press down slowly because oceanic plates are dense and will sink a
bit into the asthenosphere.
c. 4lowly push fruit roll ups apart about a centimeter.
d. ,ecord obserations about what happens as plates pull apart.
5. 6ontinental7oceanic collision
a. ,emoe and discard or eat one fruit roll up.
b. Place one graham cracker half $continental crust, thicker, less dense% lightly onto the frosting
asthenosphere ne#t to the remaining fruit roll up piece.
c. 2o not push own on graham cracker because continental crust floats high on asthenosphere.
d. /ently push the continent $graham cracker% towards the ocean plate $fruit roll up% until the
two oerlap and the graham cracker is on top.
e. ,ecord obseration about what happens when plates collide.
8. 6ontinent7continent collision
a. ,emoe fruit roll up an graham cracker from icing.
b. 2iscard or eat fruit roll up.
c. Place one edge of both graham cracker hales into water for just a few seconds.
d. Place the crackers onto the frosting with wet edges ne#t to each other.
e. 4lowly push the graham crackers towards each other.
f. ,ecord obseration about what happens when plates collide.
9. Transform plate boundaries
a. ,emoe the two graham crackers.
b. Turn them around so that two dry edges are ne#t to each other.
c. Push one cracker past the other to simulate a transform plate boundary.
DATA/RESULTS/OBSERVATIONS:
$,ecord what you obsered in words, drawings, or other suitable means%
CONCLUSION:
$0hen the fruit roll up and graham crackers collided, did they react as you e#pected for the plate
boundary represented'%