Name: _______________________________________ Per: ___________________

The Edible Earth: Plate Movements

Introduction
The theory of Plate Tectonics states that the crust of the Earth is composed of less than
twenty separate plates that float on the hot plastic mantle of the inner Earth The theory also
states that the motion of these plates creates a variety of interactions at the plate boundaries The
boundaries of these crust plates collide! diver"e! or slip past each other #ome crust plate
boundaries appear to be inactive $hen plates collide! they can buc%le a"ainst each other! or one
plate mi"ht slip beneath the other If plates diver"e! or pull away! the space in between is filled
with molten roc% which becomes new crust There are two basic plate types which we will
simulate today: the thic%er! but less dense continental plate! and the thinner! more dense oceanic
plate In this lab! we will investi"ate the possible interaction ta%in" place at various plate
boundaries
Materials
Marshmallows and "raham crac%ers &the crust'
(rostin" &the plastic mantle'
$a) paper &the solid mantle'
*up of water

Procedure and +uestions:
, $hich material best represents the continental crust- $hy-


. $hich material best represents the oceanic crust- $hy-



Plate /oundary 0,
/rea% a whole crac%er into four rectan"les
#pread the frostin" over a small section of the wa) paper
1ay two rectan"les a"ainst each other on top of the frostin"
Press down li"htly on the plates as you slowly push them away from each other
#top when they are about ,cm apart


2 $hat type of plate boundary does this represent-






Plate /oundary 0.
1ay a "raham crac%er rectan"le end to end with the marshmallow! restin" each of them
on the molten Earth frostin"
Push these two plates slowly to"ether 3ne plate should slip beneath the other

4 $hat type of plate boundary does this represent-



5 6oes one plate slip beneath the other- If so! which one-



Plate /oundary 02
Ta%e two "raham crac%er rectan"les and lay them side by side on top of the frostin"
Pressin" "ently on the "raham crac%ers! push one towards you and the other away from
you so that they slide past each other


7 $hat type of plate boundary does this represent-





Plate /oundary 04
Ta%e a "raham crac%er rectan"le and dip one end of it in water for ,89,5 seconds Then
place it on the molten Earth frostin"
Place a second "raham crac%er rectan"le end to end a"ainst the wet part of the other
"raham crac%er rectan"le
Pressin" down "ently! push the model plates into each other

: 6escribe what happens




; $hat natural features are formed-




< $here! on planet Earth! could we find these features-
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