Plate Motion

To study plate motion, scientists study...

• Volcanoes.

• Earthquakes.

• GPS measurements.

• All of the above.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Plates move towards each other at a...

• Convergent boundary.

• Divergent boundary.

Plates move away from each other at a...

• Convergent boundary.

• Divergent boundary.

Mid-ocean ridges only form at...

• Convergent boundaries.

• Divergent boundaries.

Most geologists think that the movement of Earth’s plates is caused by _______ / La mayoría de los geólogos piensan que el movimiento de las placas de la Tierra es causado por _______

• convection / convección.

• continental drift / deriva continental.

• subduction / subducción.

• conduction / conducción.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Dr. Bailey and his team are studying two plates that are far apart from each other. However, these two plates used to be next to each other. Which diagram shows what Dr. Bailey and his team would find between these plates?

• Diagram A: Soft, solid rock from underneath the plates rose and hardened, adding solid rock to the edges of both plates.

• Diagram B: A new plate from underneath filled in the gap that was created by the plates moving apart.

• Diagram C: Sand and dirt filled in the gap that was created by the plates moving apart.

• Diagram D: Ocean water filled in the gap that was created by the plates moving apart.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What happens when two plates are moving toward each other? / ¿Qué sucede cuando dos placas se mueven una hacia la otra?

• The plates hit each other and break into pieces making sand. / Las placas se golpean entre sí y se rompen en pedazos formando arena.

• The plates push against each other, making the edges bend upward. / Las placas se empujan unas contra otras, haciendo que los bordes se doblen hacia arriba.

• One plate goes underneath the other plate into the soft rock below. / Una placa va debajo de la otra placa en la roca blanda de abajo.

• One plate goes underneath the other plate into the ocean below. / Un plato va debajo del otro plato en el océano de abajo.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Imagine you're part of a team of adventurous researchers, using high-tech GPS data to track two gigantic plates that are moving toward each other like two sumo wrestlers in a ring. Can you guess what's happening at the epicenter where these two plates are colliding?

• Diagram A: One plate is playing 'hide and seek', going underneath the other plate and sinking into the ocean below.

• Diagram B: One plate is sneaking underneath the other plate and sinking into the soft rock below like quicksand.

• Diagram C: The two plates are having a 'rocky' fight, hitting each other, and the plates are breaking into pieces, creating sand.

• Diagram D: The two plates are engaged in a 'tug of war', pushing against each other, causing the edges to bend upward like a mountain range.

Answer explanation

The correct diagram is B and C. This is a convergent plate boundary, which means one plate will be moving underneath the other one and melting into the mantle, or the two plates will meet and bend upward.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The plates of the Earth moved / Las placas de la Tierra se movieron

• suddenly / de repente

• gradually / gradualmente

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Can people living on the North American and Eurasian plates feel them moving apart? Why or why not?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3