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Copy of plate tectonic explorer (2/18/2025)

Last updated about 1 year ago

40 questions

Note from the author:

Getting started

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Plate interactions

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Oceanic-Oceanic Boundary

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Convergent Boundaries Continental

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Divergent Boundaries

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Transformb

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Summary

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Simulation on plate boundaries

Instructions
Click the data type button, then choose earthquakes
Click the start button on the simulation below.
You will see a satellite image of Earth's continents and oceans. By hitting the "Start" button in the lower left of the simulation, you will see the locations of earthquakes for the last 42 years
The earthquakes are represented in the simulation by circles of different sizes and colors, representing earthquake magnitude and depth, respectively (see key in upper right corner).

Question 1

1.

Now, on the simulation, 
Click the restart button
Click Data type
Choose Plate Boundaries and Earthquakes
Click the start button and run the simulation

Question 2

2.

Question 3

3.

On the simulation above, 
1. Click Data type: Choose: plate boundaries, plate names, plate movement
2. Click all other options off 

Question 4

4.

Question 5

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Question 6

6.

1. Click Data type of the sim above
2. choose, Plate boundaries, Plate Names, Earthquakes and volcanoes

Question 7

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Question 8

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Question 9

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Question 10

10.

Go to this link in a new tab: LINK 
An Earth-like planet has been preset with a tectonic boundary running from N-S. Plate 1 is on the left of the boundary and Plate 2 is on the right.
To model the Nazca-South America convergence, we need to draw a continent on Plate 2. Click and drag your mouse to draw a continent similar in shape to South America on the right side of the boundary. (similar to the 1st image )
Click "Next" to assign forces to your plates. Click on Plate 1, drag your mouse towards the plate boundary line and let go to create an arrow that indicates which direction the plate will move. Repeat with Plate 2, making sure to draw the arrow pointing towards the plate boundary to model convergence. (see image 2)
Click "Next" to order plate density. Plate 1 is automatically set as less dense, or "above" Plate 2. To model the Nazca and South American Plate convergence, we need to reorder the plates. Click and drag Plate 2 above Plate 1. Click "Finish" to watch the plates collide. (see image 3) Note the time (in millions of years) at the bottom of the simulation.
Pause the simulation around 200 million years. Click on "Draw Cross-section" at the top of the simulation. Click and drag to draw a rectangle perpendicular to the plate boundary that straddles both sides. (see image 4)
A window will appear below the simulation with a cross-sectional view of the subsurface. Reference the key in the upper right corner of the simulation.

Question 11

11.

Question 12

12.

Take a screen shot of your simulation showing the cross section then add it here

Question 13

13.

Examine the simulation below of 2 oceanic plates at a boundary near Alaska

Question 14

14.

Question 15

15.

Examine these cross sections between two Oceanic plates. and answer the following

Question 16

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Question 17

17.

The simulation below is of the Himalayan mountains which formed due to a collision between tectonic plates

Question 18

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Question 19

19.

Open a new tab with this link
An Earth-like planet has been preset with a convergent tectonic boundary running from N-S. Plate 1 is on the left of the boundary and Plate 2 is on the right. The associated cross-section appears below the main window.
Play the simulation. At about 160 million years, the continent on Plate 1 will collide with the continental Plate 2.
Pay attention to what occurs in the subsurface as the continents collide. and answer the questions 

Question 20

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Question 21

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Question 22

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Question 23

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Question 24

24.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a submarine mountain range (and the longest mountain range on Earth), marks where the Eurasian and North American, and African and South American plates diverge. 

Now you will see a relief map of the Earth zoomed in on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range formed at a divergent oceanic boundary.
Click on "Data Type" at the bottom of the simulation. Under "Data Available," select "Earthquakes" and "Volcanic Eruptions."

Question 25

25.

Examine the image above, This shows the divergent boundary over the course of 60 million years answer the following

Question 26

26.

Question 27

27.

The Red Sea, a shallow sea formed in a continental rift valley, marks where the African and Arabian plates diverge. Let's explore the geologic phenomena associated with a divergent continental boundary with Concord Consortium's Seismic Explorer.
Instructions for Concord Consortium's Seismic Explorer Simulation
Now you will see a relief map of the Earth zoomed in on the Red Sea, a sea formed in a continental rift from the divergence of the African and Arabian continental plates.
Click on "Data Type" at the bottom of the simulation. Under "Data Available," select "Earthquakes" and "Volcanic Eruptions."

Question 28

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Question 29

29.

Examine the image above of this boundaries' movement over that last 100 million years 

Question 30

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Question 31

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Question 32

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Question 33

33.

Transform boundaries occur when two plates slide past one another horizontally . Such boundaries can connect other types of boundaries, transforming motion at that site.

Crust is neither destroyed nor created at transform boundaries. However, that does not mean that nothing of significance occurs at transform boundaries. In some cases, transform boundaries are marked by features like streams that have been split in two, with each half moving in a different direction 

There are many transform boundaries along California's coast, which are responsible for the large number of earthquakes in the area. The most famous transform boundary in California is the San Andreas Fault, where the Pacific and North American plates slide past one another.
Let's look at another transform boundary along California's coast, near El Centro.

Question 34

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Question 35

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Question 36

36.

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Looking at all earthquakes since 01/01/1980, choose the term below that best describes their general pattern.

earthquakes appear randomly all over the world, there does not seem to be any patterns

Many earthquakes occur along "lines" that follow some kind of pattern

Most earthquakes only happen in the middle of continents 

What do you notice about the location earthquakes with respect to plate boundaries?

Earthquakes seem to mostly happen along plate boundaries

Earthquakes seem to mostly happen in the middle of a plate

Earthquakes seem to mostly happen outside of plate boundaries. 

On the simulation, Click on data type and Add volcanoes, Now examine the locations of volcanoes, earthquakes and plate boundaries. 

What do you notice about the location of volcanoes, earthquakes, and plate boundaries ?

Most volcanoes and earth quakes occur at plate boundaries

Most volcanoes and earth quakes occur in the middle of  plates

Using the key in the upper right of the simulation, What type of boundary is found along the west coast of the south American Plate? 

Convergent

Trasnform

Divergent

Examine the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Is the plate boundary moving at the same rate throughout all of its area? 

Yes , it is about 22 mm/year

No, it is slower in the North and faster in the south

No, it is faster in the north and slower in the south

Using the information on the simulation the Pacifici plate is....

growing in size due to sea floor spreading

shrinking due to subduction

Staying the same size because the amount of sea floor spreading matches the amount of subduction

Examine the Nasca and South American Plate boundary, What is the major type of plate boundary found here? 

Convergent

Divergent

Transform

Examine this image, Then answer the following. 
When one plate is more dense than the other at a convergent boundary, subduction occurs. Which plate is subducted in this case?

Nazca Plate is subducted

South American Plate is subducted 

neither is subducted as this is a divergent boundary

Examine the boundary between the Nazca and South American Plates, What land features do you sea here? 

Mountains

Lots of lakes

Ocean Trench

Large Islands

Click the play button and observe the Volcanic and earthquake activity for this plate boundary , How would you describe the seismic activity at this location

many small earthquakes no large earthquakes with few volanic eruptions

Many earthquakes of all sizes, with some volcanoes

not many earthquakes lots of volcanoes

Examine the simulation you created, Which plate represenets the South American Plate? 

Plate 1 

Plate 2

Which of the following features can be seen in your cross section? 

Ocean trench

Mountain

Volcano

Mantle

Continental Crust

Oceanic crust

Subduction

Immediately South of the Aleutian islands What land feature is present? Remember that dark blue represents the lowest elevations on a relief map, whereas browns represent the highest elevations.
(this image is just to help you locate the islands on the simulation) 

Mountains

Plains

Ocean Trench

Volcanoes

What type of boundary is this plate interaction? 

convergent

divergent

transform

Which plate is being subducted? 

1

2

Over time a specific type of feature forms and reaches above the ocean's surface, The aleutian islands in Alaska were formed by this method, what is the term for land features such as this? 

Volcanic Island arc

Contientnatl crust

subduction

click on data type and choose, earthquakes and volcanoes. Click Start and allow the simulation to proceed.  Which of the following features do you observe?

Many volcanoes

Few earthquakes with a few volcanoes

Many earthquakes most shallow and of many different magnitudes 

click on data type and choose, plate boundaries and names as well as  earthquakes and volcanoes. Click Start and allow the simulation to proceed. Examine the location of the earthquakes relative to the plate boundary and choose the best description. 

All the earthquakes are at or very near the plate boundary

Many earthquakes are at the plate boundary but many are also scattered across the plate 

The earthquakes only occur south of the plate boundary 

What type of plate boundary is this ? 

convergent

divergent

transform

Which plate it becing suducted within the 1st 160 million years? 

oceanic plate

continental plate

What happens after 160 million years when the oceanic plate has been completely subducted ? 

another oceanic plate continues to be subducted

A continental crust  behind the oceanic plate now collides with the stationary continental crust 

The motion stops

What geologic feature is formed by this collision after 160 million years? 

trench

mountains

islands

For Continental- Contiental crust covergent boundaries there is (are) no 

mountains

movement of plates

subduction

Which of the following geologic events do you find at the mid-Atlantic ridge? (use the key in the upper right)

volcanoes 

shallow earthquakes

deep earthquakes

What type of plates are involved in this interaction? 

Oceanic - Oceanic plates

Oceanic - Continental Plates

Continental - Continental Plates

What is the name of the geologic feature that is formed here? 

ocean trench

subduction

Oceanic ridge

Mountains

Volcanic Arc

Examine the interactions of the Arabian and African plate at the Red sea what type of boundary is this? 

convergent

Divergent

transform

Which geologic events tend to form here? 

volcanoes

shallow earthquakes

deep earthquakes

What type of crust is present at 10 million years? 

continental 

oceanic

As  the interaction takes place, what type of crust is formed after 70 million years? 

continental 

Oceanic

Examine the image for 30 million years, What type of feature is forming? 

oceanic trench

subduction

rift valley

Mountains

Using this information, Which of the following is most likely true about the Red Sea?

It is shrinking as the plates move together

It is widening as the plates move apart

It is becoming deeper as the plates are subducted

This simulation shows a map zoomed in on California, Choose Data type and choose earthquakes and volcanoes.  Which events tend to occur at these boundaries? 

earthquakes

volcanoes 

earthquakes

subduction

trench

volcanoes

rift valley

ocean ridges

earthquakes

Volcanic Island Arcs

earthquakes

lateral movement

convergent 

Divergent

Transform

Examine the image above, Which plate must be denser? 

A because it is being subducted under B

B because it is being pushed up over A 

Question 37

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Question 38

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Question 39

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Question 40

40.

What feature is this ? 

Subduction 

Ocean ridge

Ocean Trench

Volcanic island arc

What process is represented by these arrows?

Radiation

subduction

Convection currents

Conduction

What type of crust is this? 

oceanic 

continental 

transform

divergent

What type of plate interaction is seen in this image? 

Oceanic-Oceanic Convergent boundary

Continental- Continental convergent boundary

Continental- Oceanic convergent boundary

Transform boundary

Oceanic - Oceanic divergent boundary

Continental- Oceanic divergent boundary