1

Plate Tectonics – Week 2 – Lesson 3 Name: Activity 1

Analyse and interpret the map below using the information your learnt in class about

the oceanic crust (look at the board for a colour version of the image), and answer

the following questions:

1) What is this map/graph/image telling you about the age of the oceanic crust

rocks?

2) Where are rocks younger and where are they older?

2

Activity 2 (groups of 2)

1) This is an informative and worthwhile experiment to do in the class, as it

illustrates the very important concept of convection. You are required to follow the

instructions below, make observations and answer the questions below

Materials:

a) 1 pack of miso soup

b) a clear glass beaker

c) a fork

d) boiling water (do I have to tell you to be careful with boiling water?)

e) your brain to process the observations.

Instructions:

a) get your empty beaker

b) stir the mix thoroughly, then allow it to rest for a couple of minutes

c) observation period starts as soon as the water settles

Assumptions:

a) the miso paste is the mantle

b) the thin layer between the miso soup and the surface is the crust

c) the bottom of the beaker is the heat source (the core)

Q1. Carefully observe the mixture. You should look what is happening inside the

beaker from as many angles as possible (sides and above). Write as many

observations as possible, concentrate on what is happening to the miso paste.

Q2. Where is the heated magna going to when it reaches the surface? (there are two

places I can think of)

3

Activity 3

You are required to create a to scale representation of Earth’s compositional OR

mechanical layers using the image below as a reference.

Instructions:

Material required: your brain, a ruler, A3 sheet of paper, a calculator (if you want to

use one), coloring pencils (if you feel artistic today), or any other material you want

to use.

Process: You will have to convert units during this task (km to cm). The idea of this

activity is to give an opportunity to reflect on the scales involved on Earth’s

structure. YOU MUST SHOW THE WORKING.

Example: Lest say that your Earth has a radius of 40 cm. How thick would be the

core in cm?

Steps

1. How thick is the core?

Core = 6396 km - 2900 km = 3496 km

2. How do I convert?

6396 km = 40 cm x= 3496 km x 40 cm x = 21.86 or 21.9 cm

3496 km = x 6396 km

4