Puzzling Facts About Plate Tectonics

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Written By: Dan Mascaro Presented By: Peter the Plate Puzzling Facts About Plate Tectonics You can call me Pete

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science project

Transcript of Puzzling Facts About Plate Tectonics

Page 1: Puzzling Facts About Plate Tectonics

Written By: Dan Mascaro Presented By: Peter the Plate

Puzzling Facts About Plate Tectonics

You can call me Pete

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Heading Page #

Introduction 3

Plate Boundaries 6

Transform Boundary 7

Divergent Boundary 9

Convergent Boundary 11

Subduction 12

Volcanoes 14

Volcanic Ash 16

Volcanic Bomb 16

Earthquakes 17

Epicenter 18

Seismograph 20

Primary Waves 21

Secondary Waves 21

Seismologist 24

Volcanologist 24

Table of Contents

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Introduction Hi, my name is Peter. I know a

lot about plate tectonics. The reason I know so much is that I am a piece of the tectonic plate puzzle.

That’s a good question, and I will help you solve this puzzle and fit all the pieces together so that you can learn about plate tectonics.

What in the world are plate tectonics?

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Plate tectonics is the explanation of what goes on under your feet.

Changes happen under ground all the time. Some we can feel and some we can not. The changes are caused by the movement of plates at their boundaries that I will teach you about.

Wait until you see what the changes in the ground can cause! Pete predicts it will make you shake rattle and explode!

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Are you ready to get started?

Yes, but first can you tell me what plates are?

Plates are very large pieces of land that are like giant puzzle pieces that are all connected. These plates are a big part of plate tectonics. They have things called boundaries on the edges of them.

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There are three types of plate boundaries. They are transform, divergent and convergent. When one plate moves, it makes other plates move too.

Plate Boundaries

Here is a picture of how the plates move at the boundaries.

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Transform Boundary

At a transform boundary two plates slide past each other.

It’s like two cars going very slowly by each other.

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Most transform boundaries are found under water. I don’t think you will see two cars passing each other there…maybe two

fish though!

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Divergent Boundary

Plates at a divergent plate boundary, move away from each other. As they move away something else forms, like grass growing in between side walk cracks.

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At a real divergent plate boundary, two plates move away from each other. When this happens a new crust is formed.

Is it like a pie crust?

Wouldn’t that be nice! But, no it’s not like a pie crust. It is hard rock and certainly not something good to eat!

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Convergent Boundary

A convergent boundary is different from the other types of boundaries. The plates are coming together, and when this happens one plate slides under the other one.

Two people walking into each other is kind of like the same thing as what happens in the start of a convergent boundary.

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The second part of a convergent boundary, where one plates slides under the other, is called subduction.

Think of diving into a pool, when you hit the water you are forced underneath just like when the plates come together.

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Are you ready to

SHAKE RATTLE & EXPLODE?

With all of those changes in the plates sometimes big things happen as a result.

Explode ? Are there fireworks?

No fireworks but earthquakes and volcanoes are possible!

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Volcanoes

When plates shift Volcanoes can form over time. A volcano is like a big hole that allows hot liquid from the earth called magma to explode out of the ground. When the magma gets too hot, it comes up to the surface.

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The game Elefun is a great example of what the magma from below the surface does. In this game butterflies are put on top of the elephants head, then they get pushed up and out of its trunk just like magma.

EXPLODE!

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Here are two more things that come out of a volcano.

VOLCANIC BOMB

One huge piece of rock that gets launched out of a volcano. It is mostly one rock instead of many like ash that is

many sizes

VOLCANIC ASH

Pieces of rock during a volcano eruptions get

thrown into the air, they are

called volcanic ash. This rock coming out of a

volcano can come in many

different sizes.

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Earthquakes

An earthquake is another effect of the changing of tectonic plates. Earthquakes shake the ground, they do this because the underground different plates are moving around.

See how much the ground pulled away from each other during an earthquake.

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Epicenter

The epicenter of an earthquake is where the earthquake is most powerful.

Meet my friend Muscles

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The epicenter is like the bulls eye in darts. It’s definitely

the strongest part of an earthquake.

There is a special scale, called the Mercalli scale to help find Muscles…..I mean the epicenter.

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Earthquake Waves

There is a cool tool called a seismograph that is used to find and measure different earthquake waves.

Is it like an ocean wave Pete?

Well some waves can travel through liquid but they really they are a signal that an

earthquake has taken place.

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Check out the waves on this real seismograph

There are two kinds of earthquake waves:

P-waves or Primary - is the faster of the two earthquake waves. It travels through solids, liquids and gases. Since they are so fast, they are read by a seismograph.

S-wave or Secondary - wave is the other type. earthquake. S-waves like P-waves can travel through solid rock, but not liquids and gases.

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P-waves are seen first

S-waves are seen Second and are Slower. See how I remember?

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Puzzle Experts

There are two types of Scientists who also work hard at the plate tectonic puzzle.

A Volcanologist

and a Seismologist

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• A volcanologist is a type of scientist who studies volcanology. This person looks at and past eruptions. These scientists even visit volcanoes too.

• A seismologist is a very smart scientist who studies

earthquakes. They look at earthquakes to predict them in the future so that we can prepare and be safe.

What do they do Pete?

I sure do love your questions, let me tell you.

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The plate tectonic puzzle comes together

Plates

Volcanoes

Earthquakes

Seism

ograph

Bound

aries

Subduction

Divergent

Convergent

Magma

Transform

P-waves

S-waves

Epicenter

Seismologist

Volcanologist

Mercalli Scale

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Thanks so much for letting me teach you about many pieces of plate tectonics! We learned about movement underground that sometimes causes earthquakes & volcanoes.

Is there more Pete? There’s more, much more! But you will have to wait until my next book called You Magma Lava, dedicated to my Mother who loves me with all my faults. It’ll crack you up! See you then! My Mama!

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Works Cited

•"Earthquake." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquakes>.

•"How Are Earthquake Magnitudes Measured?" Geological Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Tech. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/intensity.html>.

•"Plate Boundaries." Plate Tectonics. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp>.

•"Volcano." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanoe>.

•"Volcanology." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanology>.

•"Waves." SCIGN at JPL. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/eq6.htm>.