Topics

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** TOPIC 1: THE THEORY OF PLATE TECTONICS **
1) Describe the layers of the Earth and their properties (what are they made of, what happens to the pressure, temperature, density as you go to the center). This includes inner core, outer core, mantle, crust, lithosphere, and asthenosphere. 2) What is the main idea of theory of plate tectonics? 3) How is the theory of plate tectonics different from the notion of Continental Drift? 4) Why is the theory of plate tectonics just a theory?
 * What are tectonic plates?
 * Give examples.
 * Describe the difference between oceanic crust and continental crust
 * What evidence is there to support this theory? What kinds of evidence led to its acceptance by the scientific community?
 * How do scientists explain how the plates move? About how fast are these plates moving?
 * Who was Alfred Wegener? What evidence did Alfred Wegener have for supporting Continental Drift (talk about fossils? Climate? Geology?)
 * What was Pangaea? Why did Wegener think this supported his theory of Continental Drift?
 * Why did other scientists reject Wegener’s hypothesis of Continental Drift?
 * Why is “the theory of plate tectonics” not considered a fact?
 * Is there any evidence that disproves the theory of plate tectonics?
 * How old is “the theory of plate tectonics”? Give some background.
 * What are some alternative theories to plate tectonics that explain geologic activity (earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.)?

** TOPIC 2: PLATES MOVE **
1) What is a divergent boundary? 2) What is a convergent boundary? 3) What is a transform boundary? 4) How does the fact that the plates move in all different directions support the theory of plate tectonics?
 * What geologic features form at divergent boundaries (i.e. mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys)
 * Give real life examples of these geologic features (ex. Describe and show pictures of a current mid-ocean ridge)
 * What causes the sea floor to spread at a divergent boundary? How is new crust formed and what happens to the old crust as new crust forms?
 * What geologic features form when two continental plates collide (continental-continental collision)?
 * Explain how colliding plates form mountain ranges.
 * Give a real life example of a mountain range being formed because two continental plates are pushing into each other.
 * What is subduction?
 * What geologic features form when an oceanic plate sinks under another plate with oceanic crust (ocean-oceanic subduction)? i.e. deep ocean trenches, island arcs
 * Give real life examples of these geologic features (ex. Describe and show pictures of a current island arc)
 * What geologic features form when an oceanic plate sinks under continental crust (ocean-continental subduction)? i.e. deep ocean trenches, coastal mountains
 * Give real life examples of these geologic features (ex. Describe and show pictures of coastal mountains)
 * Why do transform boundaries cause lots of earthquakes?
 * What makes the San Andreas Fault a transform boundary?
 * Investigate other examples of transform boundaries.
 * How do the formation of the above geologic features support the theory (mountain ranges being formed, volcanoes, earthquakes, sea floor spreading, etc.)?
 * Explain why the theory of plate tectonics explains the locations of volcanoes, earthquakes and mountain belts on Earth.
 * Explain how the plates moving is affecting the size of our continents and oceans. Which ones are shrinking? Which ones are growing bigger? Why?
 * EX: Why is the Pacific Ocean shrinking?
 * EX: What is happening to the distance between North America and Europe?
 * Give evidence to back up your answer here!

** TOPIC 3: EARTHQUAKES **
1) What is an earthquake? 2) Where and how often do earthquakes occur? 3) How is the magnitude of an earthquake expressed? 4) How do earthquakes provide strong evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics?
 * Also, explain the terms: fault, stress (How does stress exerted on faults cause earthquakes?)
 * What is a focus and an epicenter?
 * How does energy from an earthquake travel through Earth?
 * Why are some earthquakes deeper than others?
 * Where are most faults located?
 * What does the strength of an earthquake depend upon?
 * Why don’t earthquakes occur in the asthenosphere?
 * Compare the 3 types of seismic waves (P-wave, S-wave, and L-wave). Include the speed, location, type of material they travel through, the way they move, and how much damage they can do
 * What are seismographs and how are they used to located an earthquake?
 * Explain the Richter Scale and how it is used to classify earthquakes.
 * How is an earthquake’s magnitude related to the damage it causes?
 * Think about where the majority of earthquakes happen
 * Explain why earthquakes provide good evidence for the theory of plate tectonics
 * Give evidence to back up your answer here!

** TOPIC 4: VOLCANOES **
1) What is a volcano? 2) What kinds of material do volcanoes erupt? 3) What kinds of eruptions do volcanoes have? 4) How do volcanoes provide strong evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics?
 * Where do most volcanoes form? Why?
 * Describe the parts to a volcano (magma chamber, pipe, vent, crater)
 * Explain the difference between lava and magma.
 * How does magma reach the earth’s surface?
 * How does the amount of silica and gas in magma affect the force of a volcanic eruption? (Amount of gas dissolved in the magma, Thickness of the magma, Temperature of the magma, Silica content)
 * Explain the difference between the different types of rock fragments (ash vs. cinders vs. block)
 * Explain what kinds of gases escape from volcanoes.
 * Describe the different shapes and sizes of volcanoes (i.e. Shield volcano vs. cinder cone vs. composite)
 * Research and give real life examples of all three types – shield, cinder cone, composite
 * How does the type of material that erupts from a volcano determine the shape of the volcano?
 * How do these rock fragments form?
 * Think about where the majority of volcanoes happen
 * Explain why volcanoes provide good evidence for the theory of plate tectonics
 * Give evidence to back up your answer here!

** TOPIC 5: EFFECTS OF VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES **
1) What effect do volcanoes have on the Environment? 2) What effect do earthquakes have on the Environment? 3) How can the risks associated with volcanoes and earthquakes be reduced? 4) Give at least __4 examples of major earthquakes__ and __4 examples of major volcanoes.__
 * What are the major dangers associated with volcanoes? (Before-the-volcano dangers, during-the-volcano dangers, and after-the-volcano dangers)
 * How do these dangers affect the different spheres (Biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere)?
 * How do volcanic eruptions affect Earth’s surface?
 * How do volcanic gases affect the atmosphere?
 * How does volcanic activity affect water?
 * What are the major dangers associated with earthquakes? (Before-the-earthquake dangers, during-the-earthquake dangers, and after-the-earthquake dangers)
 * How do these dangers affect the different spheres (Biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere)?
 * What current technologies are in place to monitor and/or predict these geologic events?
 * How do these technologies help scientists predict future events?
 * What have people learned to keep them as safe as possible during an earthquake or volcano?
 * Describe these major events (When? What? Where? Why? How? Who?)
 * Describe how this event (earthquakes or volcano) affected the area that they hit.

** TOPIC 6: MAJOR GEOLOGIC AREAS **
There are 7 major plates: 1) African; 2) Antarctic; 3) North American; 4) South American; 5) Pacific; 6) Indian; 7) Australian

1) Give a tectonic plates map that shows the locations of each of the above seven plates. (Then, you job is to help the person with section 3)

2) Then for each plate above, do the following: (for this part: instead of doing internet research, I would use the geologic activity maps and plate boundary map pg.14 in your binder)
 * Describe the plate – what kind of crust is it made of (oceanic and continental; just oceanic; or just continental)
 * Explain or have a map that shows how the plate is moving on all its sides (ex. On the east side of the South American plate is a divergent boundary with the African plate)
 * Describe the important geologic areas/features associated with each plate. (for ex: Pacific Plate talk large subduction zone causing deep ocean trenches, tons of volcanoes and earthquakes)

3) Then, you’ll need to “highlight” (describe with visuals) the significant geologic areas of the world. **Ones to definitely discuss:** Ring of Fire/Mariana Trench; Mid-Atlantic Ridge/Iceland; Hawaii; Great Rift Valley; San Andreas Fault; Himalayas Questions for Ring of Fire:
 * For example: ** Ring of Fire/Mariana Trench
 * Where is the Ring of Fire?
 * Why is it called the Ring of Fire?
 * What does the Ring of Fire have to do with plate tectonics? What plate is the Ring of Fire associated with?
 * What events on the Earth's surface tend to occur in this region more frequently than in other regions of the Earth? Why do they occur here?
 * What do trenches have to do with the Ring of Fire and plate tectonics?
 * What is the Mariana trench? Describe why it is significant (why is it so famous).


 * For example: ** Mid-Atlantic Ridge
 * What is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
 * Where is it?
 * What does the Mid-Atlantic Ridge have to do with plate tectonics? What plates is it associated with?
 * What events happen here?
 * Why is Iceland significant to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

4) Give current events of the plates. What recent significant activity is happening around the world? Talk about recent huge earthquakes and volcanoes.
 * For example talk about 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami
 * Talk about Iceland volcano 2011

** TOPIC 7: EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES – MOSTLY AT PLATE BOUNDARIES, BUT NOT ALWAYS **
1) Not all earthquakes and volcanoes occur at plate boundaries. So, what are some of the current theories to explain why earthquakes happen in the interior of plates? (Research using the term “Intraplate earthquakes”) 2) What are hot spot volcanoes? 3) Look at North Carolina. Why do you think not many earthquakes, volcanoes, and other major geologic events happen in North Carolina? 4) Look at the Ring of Fire. Why do you think most of worlds earthquakes, volcanoes, and major geologic events happen there?
 * Give some historical examples of intraplate earthquakes.
 * When was the most recent example of an earthquake being felt in Raleigh/Chapel Hill?
 * Why do scientists think we felt this earthquake?
 * How do these volcanoes form even though they are in the interior of a plate?
 * Give examples of hot spot volcanoes.
 * Use evidence to explain!
 * Use evidence to explain!