Puzzling Facts About Plate Tectonics Written By: Presented By:
Dan Mascaro Peter the Plate
You can call me Pete
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Table of Contents 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
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.
What in the world are plate tectonics? 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.
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!
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.
Plate Boundaries There are three types of plate boundaries. They are transform, divergent and convergent. When one plate moves, it makes other plates move too. Here is a picture of how the plates move at the boundaries.
Transform Boundary At a transform boundary two plates slide past each other.
It’s like two cars going very slowly by each other.
Most transform boundaries are found under water. I don’t think you will see two cars passing each other there‌maybe two fish though!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Here are two more things that come out of a volcano. 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.
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
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.
Epicenter The epicenter of an earthquake is where the earthquake is most powerful. Meet my friend Muscles
There is a special scale, called the Mercalli scale to help find Muscles‌..I mean the epicenter. The epicenter is like the bulls eye in darts. It’s definitely the strongest part of an earthquake.
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.
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 Pwaves can travel through solid rock, but not liquids and gases.
P-waves are seen first
S-waves are seen Second and are Slower. See how I remember?
Puzzle Experts There are two types of Scientists who also work hard at the plate tectonic puzzle.
A Volcanologist and a Seismologist
What do they do Pete? I sure do love your questions, let me tell you. • 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. • A volcanologist is a type of scientist who studies volcanology. This person looks at and past eruptions. These scientists even visit volcanoes too.
The plate tectonic puzzle comes together Magma Transform
Volcanoes Boundaries
Seismograph
Plates
Subduction
Seismologist
Divergent
Epicenter Earthquakes
Convergent
Volcanologist
S-waves
P-waves
Mercalli Scale
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!
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>.