Week 10: Layers of the Earth and Convection Cells

Week 10: Layers of the Earth and Convection Cells

1. What did you do in lab today? In lab we did an investigation experiment with graham crackers, rice cakes, and whipped cream. We used these various different materials to represent the different plate boundaries that occur. 

2. What was the big question? The two big questions in lab were: "How do the plates move?" and "What evidence do we have?". We explored these through using the materials to represent the three different types of plate boundaries. I included my notes below!

Divergent Boundaries:
- 2 Plates are pulled apart magma is coming up because of erupting volcanos

- Snapped rice cake in half then whipped cream came through the middle showing the magma rising

Transform Boundary: 

- 2 plates slide past each other

- Snapped rice cake in half then forcefully pushed against each other where pieces are breaking apart and magma (whipped cream) is coming up between

Convergent Boundary:

- Subduction: When 1 plate “dives” under another 

- Rice cake and graham cracker on top of each other 

- When 2 plates collide: 

- Squishing two broken graham crackers together with wet edges making mountains and magma coming up in between

3. What did you learn in Thursdays lecture? In Thursdays lecture I learned that earthquakes can get large enough to the point that they shake the entire world. If you get above a 9 the earthquake would shake the entire world (felt globally). This doesn't mean that if you are in Iowa standing outside your body would shake uncontrollably more so just a mini rumble.

Textbook:

1. What did you learn? I learned about Pangea in more depth than I had previously learned about. I had previously known that it was one super continent all together and over time drifted apart into pieces. I did not understand that the reason they moved apart was the plates moving about. That is why we have our small landmasses we have today. Through pictures it is easy to understand that some continents were connected at a time. 

2. What was the most helpful? The Khan Academy video was helpful in describing just how thick the layers of the Earth are. The specific numbers of 2900-3000 km thick, which is the size of the mantle are HUGE. 

3. What do you need more information on? I do not necessarily need more information on this rather more practice on the Law of Superposition. I understand that the layers above are younger than the layers below. Dikes often confuse me, but to my understanding when they spread out they end if not they keep going through the layers.

1. What questions, comments, and/or concerns do you have? None.