Copy of 2024-25 APES Dynamic Earth WebQuest (1) (1)

Dynamic Earth WebQuest
The Story of Plate Tectonics

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ Period: _____ Seat#: _____
Use a different text color when answering these questions.
https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic.html#anchor4161180
https://www.learner.org/series/interactive-dynamic-earth/
1. State the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
There are large tectonic plates under the Earth's layers which have been moving very slowly for a long time.
The plates create major landforms like mountains and volcanoes.
2. What was Pangaea?

Pangea was a supercontinent that existed 250 million years ago.
How long ago did Pangaea begin to break up? 225-250 million years ago.
What were Laurasia and Gondwanaland?
Laurasia and Gonwanaland were massive continents that existed 200 million years ago after the breakup of Pangea.
Laurasia was composed of present day Asia and Europe. Gondwanaland was composed of present day Africa, India,
South America and Australia.
3. What was the theory of continental drift? Who proposed the concept?
Alfred Wegener proposed the idea of continental drift which is that the continents once formed a large supercontinent, and
have since slowly drifted apart to form the continents of today.
How were each of the following pieces of evidence used by Wegener?
The apparent fit of SA and Africa : South America had a remarkable fit to the west side of Africa. Plants and
animals along the coastlines of the continents are also very similar.
Identical fossils (name them) and glacial deposits of the same age on different continents
There are identical fossil species in South America and Africa, even though they are separated by a vast ocean.
Glossopteris is a species of plants that could only have grown in warmer climates and is now found in ice cold climates.
There is also evidence of glacial deposits in Africa, which is a very hot climate suggesting the continent used to be in
different climates.
Evidence of climate change – coal deposits in Antarctica, polar dinosaurs in Australia
Evidence of climate change is the fossil of tropical plants in Antarctica which means that Antarctica must have existed in
a hotter climate before.
What was the major flaw that kept Wegener’s theory from being
accepted?
The flaw was the issue of how the continents shifted over time, and what
force could possibly have done this.
4. Inside the Earth:
Draw a diagram of the Earth and label the
crust
lithosphere
asthenosphere
mantle
inner and outer core
5. What is a tectonic plate?
Very large slab of rock made up of Earth's lithosphere
How are continental plates different from oceanic plates?
Oceanic plates reside under oceans which is the reason why they are denser than continental plates.
What’s the difference between the crust, lithosphere, and mantle?

The crust is the Earth's outermost layer, composed of rock. The lithosphere includes the crust and the upper mantle, while
the lower mantle beneath the lithosphere is more malleable and capable of slow flow.
4o
6. How does each of the following pieces of evidence support the theory of plate tectonics?
Age of ocean floor
Magnetic striping and polar reversals

magnetic stripes on the ocean floor show patterns of magnetic reversals, indicating plate movement.
Seafloor spreading
The process of new crust forming at mid-ocean ridges and moving outward shows that tectonic plates are moving.
Earthquake and volcano spatial patterns and Frequency.

Earthquakes and volcanoes tend to happen along plate boundaries, therefore providing evidence for plate tectonics.
7. Describe the ecosystem that exists around the hydrothermal vents found on MORs.
Ecosystems around hydrothermal vents rely on chemosynthesis rather than sunlight. Organisms such as tube worms,
clams, and many bacteria thrive around these vents. The energy for these ecosystems comes from the chemicals released
by the vents, especially hydrogen sulfide. These ecosystems do not contribute significantly to global primary productivity
with a percentage of less than 1.
What are some specific organisms found in this ecosystem?
Where does the energy for these ecosystems come from?
What percent of global primary productivity do they represent?
8. Below explain what happens at each of the 6 types of plate boundaries.
Where is the new crust formed and where is the crust destroyed?
Divergent Boundaries (name 2 types).

Two plates move apart from each other. The 2 types are continental rift zones and mid-ocean ridges.
Convergent Boundaries:
Ocean/Ocean Collision - when oceanic plates converge. Which plate is subducted? Why?
The denser oceanic plate is subducted because it is pulled under the lighter plate.
What is an Ocean Island Archipelago? Name at least 3.

An Archipelago is a cluster/chain of many islands(Bahama Islands, Philippines, and Andaman Islands).
Ocean/Continental Collision - when an ocean and a continent plate converge

Why does the ocean plate ALWAYS subduct below the continental plate?
Ocean plates are much denser than continental plates, therefore making the ocean plates get pulled under the continental
plates.
Continental/Continental Collision - continental plates converge

Transform Boundaries:
Why are they ALWAYS found along Mid-Ocean Ridge(MOR’s) systems?
Transform boundaries are found along mid-ocean ridges because they help the Earth's crust move apart smoothly.
9. What are Hotspots? Besides the Hawaiian Islands, what are some other hotspots?
Hotspots are locations where the hot mantle rises, causing volcanic activity at the surface. Iceland is another example of a
hotspot.
Locate at least 2 Hotspots on a Continental lithospheric plate. I will present slides on Hot Spots on Monday
. Wait ‘til then to complete this question.
10. What forces are thought to cause the movement of lithospheric (tectonic) plates, and how do they work?
Convection currents are circular currents in the Earth's mantle caused by heat from the core. Hot material rises towards
the surface, cools, and then sinks back down, creating a continuous cycle which moves the tectonic plates.
Explain convection currents.

What are the sources of heat in the Earth’s interior?
11. Read about plate tectonics and people (e.g., Wegner, Hess, etc). Who are they and why are they renown?
Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, suggesting continents once formed a supercontinent.
Harry Hess contributed the theory of seafloor spreading, providing a force for plate movement.
After you have read about disasters, make sure that you read the section about minerals and ore deposits.
12. What went on before the breakup of Pangaea?

Before Pangaea, Earth’s continents existed as separate land masses that were constantly moving due to tectonic plates.
Over time, the fragments merged into other supercontinents like Gondwana before merging into Pangaea.
13. Why is Easter Island significant?

Easter Island is significant for its many statues and sculptures created by the indigenous people there, suggesting the
advanced nature of them.
14. Go through the This Dynamic Earth Interactive website. Complete the “Test Your Skills” section and paste your score
here:
Take a screenshot of your score and add to this document (replace the image above).
You may retest as often as needed to get 100%

Copy of 2024-25 APES Dynamic Earth WebQuest (1) (1)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Copy of 2024-25 APES Dynamic Earth WebQuest (1) (1)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Copy of 2024-25 APES Dynamic Earth WebQuest (1) (1)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dynamic Earth WebQuest

The Story of Plate Tectonics

2. What was Pangaea?

What’s the difference between the crust, lithosphere, and mantle?

Magnetic striping and polar reversals

Earthquake and volcano spatial patterns and Frequency.

What are some specific organisms found in this ecosystem?

Where does the energy for these ecosystems come from?

What percent of global primary productivity do they represent?

8. Below explain what happens at each of the 6 types of plate boundaries.

Divergent Boundaries (name 2 types).

What is an Ocean Island Archipelago? Name at least 3.

Ocean/Continental Collision - when an ocean and a continent plate converge

Continental/Continental Collision - continental plates converge

Explain convection currents.

12. What went on before the breakup of Pangaea?

13. Why is Easter Island significant?

You might also like