Quarter 1 Module 1:Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Mountain Ranges
Quarter 1 – Module 5: Evidences of Plate Movements
Quarter 1 – Module 4: Earth’s Mechanism
What I Need to Know
The Earth’s whole lithosphere is broken into several rigid sections called plates that move constantly. Do lithospheric plates move quickly or slowly? What must be the reason behind the motion of the massive lithospheric plates?
This module contains different activities that will help you understand the driving force behind plate tectonics.
After going through this module, you should be able to:
1. describe the possible causes of plate movement (S10ES-Ia-j-36.5); and
2. recognize the process of convection current in the mantle.
The Earth’s whole lithosphere is broken into several rigid sections called plates that move constantly. Do lithospheric plates move quickly or slowly? What must be the reason behind the motion of the massive lithospheric plates?
This module contains different activities that will help you understand the driving force behind plate tectonics.
After going through this module, you should be able to:
1. describe the possible causes of plate movement (S10ES-Ia-j-36.5); and
2. recognize the process of convection current in the mantle.
What I Know
Choose the letter of the best answer. Shade the letter of choice on the answer sheet provided.
1. A convection current is caused by differences in temperature resulting to variation in ________.
A. air pressure
B. color
C. density
D. mass
2. Scientists believe that the motion of tectonic plates is caused by ______________.
A. pressure in Earth’s crust
B. conveyor belts
C. convection currents
D. heat in the Earth’s core
3. It is a measure of how much mass there is in a volume of a substance.
A. volume
B. temperature
C. density
D. mass
4. Hot molten materials in a convection cell rises near the ______________.
A. outer core
B. crust
C. inner core
D. mantle
5. The idea that Earth’s lithosphere is broken up into separate plates that float on the mantle is the theory of ________.
A. continental drift
B. seafloor spreading
C. tectonic movement
D. plate tectonics
6. The region in which one plate moves under another is ____________.
A. rift valley
B. subduction zone
C. magma chamber
D. vent
7. The motion of gas or liquid caused by differences in temperature is a _________.
A. tectonic movement
B. plate tectonic
C. convection current
D. magma chamber
8. A driving force for plate motion at mid-ocean ridges as a result of the rigid
lithosphere sliding down ___________.
A. slab pull
B. ridge push
C. convection current
D. seafloor spreading
9. The process of one plate moving under another plate is called ______________.
A. drifting
B. plate tectonics
C. seafloor spreading
D. subduction
10. Tectonic plates ride on ________________.
A. inner core
B. asthenosphere
C. outer core
D. lithosphere
11. The region where old crust melted back into magma is __________.
A. along plate boundaries
B. at the mid-ocean ridge
C. at deep-sea trenches
D. volcano
12. Which of the following is NOT a method of heat transfer?
A. condensation
B. convection
C. conduction
D. radiation
13. The plastic-like upper portion of the mantle is called
A. the magma
B. the core
C. the lithosphere
D. the asthenosphere
14. Which of the following is NOT a driving force of tectonic plates?
A. ridge push
B. slab push
C. drag force
D. mantle convection
15. What is the source of heat in a mantle convection current?
A. the Sun
B. the crust
C. the core
D. the moon
Choose the letter of the best answer. Shade the letter of choice on the answer sheet provided.
1. A convection current is caused by differences in temperature resulting to variation in ________.
A. air pressure
B. color
C. density
D. mass
2. Scientists believe that the motion of tectonic plates is caused by ______________.
A. pressure in Earth’s crust
B. conveyor belts
C. convection currents
D. heat in the Earth’s core
3. It is a measure of how much mass there is in a volume of a substance.
A. volume
B. temperature
C. density
D. mass
4. Hot molten materials in a convection cell rises near the ______________.
A. outer core
B. crust
C. inner core
D. mantle
5. The idea that Earth’s lithosphere is broken up into separate plates that float on the mantle is the theory of ________.
A. continental drift
B. seafloor spreading
C. tectonic movement
D. plate tectonics
6. The region in which one plate moves under another is ____________.
A. rift valley
B. subduction zone
C. magma chamber
D. vent
7. The motion of gas or liquid caused by differences in temperature is a _________.
A. tectonic movement
B. plate tectonic
C. convection current
D. magma chamber
8. A driving force for plate motion at mid-ocean ridges as a result of the rigid
lithosphere sliding down ___________.
A. slab pull
B. ridge push
C. convection current
D. seafloor spreading
9. The process of one plate moving under another plate is called ______________.
A. drifting
B. plate tectonics
C. seafloor spreading
D. subduction
10. Tectonic plates ride on ________________.
A. inner core
B. asthenosphere
C. outer core
D. lithosphere
11. The region where old crust melted back into magma is __________.
A. along plate boundaries
B. at the mid-ocean ridge
C. at deep-sea trenches
D. volcano
12. Which of the following is NOT a method of heat transfer?
A. condensation
B. convection
C. conduction
D. radiation
13. The plastic-like upper portion of the mantle is called
A. the magma
B. the core
C. the lithosphere
D. the asthenosphere
14. Which of the following is NOT a driving force of tectonic plates?
A. ridge push
B. slab push
C. drag force
D. mantle convection
15. What is the source of heat in a mantle convection current?
A. the Sun
B. the crust
C. the core
D. the moon
What is It
Plate Tectonic Theory
Plate Tectonic Theory was developed in 1960s, stating that the Earth’s lithosphere-the crust and the upper mantle- is broken up into several pieces called plates that move slowly. It explains how the massive plates move along the different types of plate tectonic boundaries (convergent, divergent, and transform fault) where they interact, and the geologic events (earthquakes and subduction) and geologic features (formation of mountains, volcanoes, and trenches) that occur at their boundaries.
What Makes Lithospheric Plates Move?
A convection current is a heat transfer process that involves the movement of energy from one place to another. The convection currents tend to move a fluid, gas particles, or molten rock. These are due to the differences in the densities and the temperature of a specific gas or a fluid. Due to this temperature difference, the hot fluid tends to rise as it expands, whereas cold fluid tends to sink because it contracts. Convection is one of the kinds of heat transfer; the other two are radiation and conduction.
Plate Tectonic Theory
Plate Tectonic Theory was developed in 1960s, stating that the Earth’s lithosphere-the crust and the upper mantle- is broken up into several pieces called plates that move slowly. It explains how the massive plates move along the different types of plate tectonic boundaries (convergent, divergent, and transform fault) where they interact, and the geologic events (earthquakes and subduction) and geologic features (formation of mountains, volcanoes, and trenches) that occur at their boundaries.
What Makes Lithospheric Plates Move?
A convection current is a heat transfer process that involves the movement of energy from one place to another. The convection currents tend to move a fluid, gas particles, or molten rock. These are due to the differences in the densities and the temperature of a specific gas or a fluid. Due to this temperature difference, the hot fluid tends to rise as it expands, whereas cold fluid tends to sink because it contracts. Convection is one of the kinds of heat transfer; the other two are radiation and conduction.
Convection current also happens in the mantle. The mantle is the second inner layer of Earth, made up of mostly hot rocks and magma. It is a very hot layer because of the heat generated by the core. The source of heat from the core is due to the decay or breakdown of radioactive elements. Mantle convection is a process by
which thermal convection occurs in the inner layer of the earth. The differences in the temperature at the Earth’s interior and surface cause convection currents to occur within the mantle.
Lithospheric plates are the parts of the uppermost layer of the Earth, and they are flowing in an area called the asthenosphere. The asthenosphere is a soft, less rigid upper part of the mantle where the lithospheric plates float and move around. Plates move slowly and continuously when the hot less dense material rises. The rising hot material cools down in a certain area. Hence, it becomes denser than the cool, dense material sinks that creates convection cell, with hot rising currents and cool sinking currents are regularly repeated and become a cycle. The movement of the lithospheric plate is attributed to mantle convection and considered as one of the driving mechanisms for plate motion. The lithosphere at the divergent boundary will uplift and tear apart due to the rising of hot magma. The sinking of magma pulls down the tectonic plate at a convergent boundary. Aside from mantle convection, ridge push, sliding, and slab pull are other forces that move the lithospheric plates.
In the process of slab pull, the presence of a heavier subducting plate pulls down the trailing slab into the subduction zone.
In a ridge push or gravitational sliding process, the old oceanic crust becomes heavier than the new oceanic crust and sinks because of the weight of the raised ridge, which pushes down the older oceanic crust towards the trench at the subduction zone.
which thermal convection occurs in the inner layer of the earth. The differences in the temperature at the Earth’s interior and surface cause convection currents to occur within the mantle.
Lithospheric plates are the parts of the uppermost layer of the Earth, and they are flowing in an area called the asthenosphere. The asthenosphere is a soft, less rigid upper part of the mantle where the lithospheric plates float and move around. Plates move slowly and continuously when the hot less dense material rises. The rising hot material cools down in a certain area. Hence, it becomes denser than the cool, dense material sinks that creates convection cell, with hot rising currents and cool sinking currents are regularly repeated and become a cycle. The movement of the lithospheric plate is attributed to mantle convection and considered as one of the driving mechanisms for plate motion. The lithosphere at the divergent boundary will uplift and tear apart due to the rising of hot magma. The sinking of magma pulls down the tectonic plate at a convergent boundary. Aside from mantle convection, ridge push, sliding, and slab pull are other forces that move the lithospheric plates.
In the process of slab pull, the presence of a heavier subducting plate pulls down the trailing slab into the subduction zone.
In a ridge push or gravitational sliding process, the old oceanic crust becomes heavier than the new oceanic crust and sinks because of the weight of the raised ridge, which pushes down the older oceanic crust towards the trench at the subduction zone.
Assessment
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on the answer sheet provided.
1. Which of the following DOES NOT describe a convection process?
A. the handle of a metal pot is hot while cooking
B. boiling of macaroni pasta
C. a sea breeze
D. ocean water in the surface is warmer
2. What is the source of heat generated by the core to the mantle?
A. gases
B. decayed radioactive elements
C. molten rocks
D. molten metals
3. Which of the following has a faster movement of molecules?
A. hot materials
B. warm materials
C. cold materials
D. room temperature materials
4. Which of the following has a lesser density in a convection cell?
A. warm fluid materials
B. cold fluid materials
C. room temperature fluid materials
D. hot fluid materials
5. In a convection current, hot materials move ______________.
A. any direction
B. sideward
C. upward
D. downward
6. The uplifting and tearing apart of lithosphere occurs at ___________________.
A. convergent boundary
B. divergent boundary
C. transform fault boundary
D. mantle
7. The idea that Earth’s lithosphere is broken up into separate plates that float on
the mantle is the theory of _____________.
A. continental drift
B. seafloor
C. tectonic movement spreading
D. plate tectonics
8. The region in which one plate moves under another is _______________.
A. rift valley
B. subduction zone
C. magma chamber
D. vent
9. A driving force for plate motion at mid-ocean ridges as a result of the rigid
lithosphere sliding down _______________.
A. slab pull
B. ridge push
C. convection current
D. seafloor spreading
10. The motion of gas or liquid caused by differences in temperature is a _________.
A. tectonic movement
B. plate tectonic
C. convection current
D. magma chamber
11. Where is the source of heat in a mantle convection current?
A. the Sun
B. the crust
C. the core
D. the moon
12. Which of the following is NOT a driving force of tectonic plates?
A. ridge push
B. slab push
C. drag force
D. mantle convection
13. It is a measure of how much mass there is in a volume of a substance.
A. volume
B. temperature
C. density
D. mass
14. The plastic-like upper portion of the mantle is called ______________.
A. the magma
B. the core
C. the lithosphere
D. the asthenosphere
15. Which of the following is NOT a method of heat transfer?
A. condensation
B. convection
C. conduction
D. radiation
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on the answer sheet provided.
1. Which of the following DOES NOT describe a convection process?
A. the handle of a metal pot is hot while cooking
B. boiling of macaroni pasta
C. a sea breeze
D. ocean water in the surface is warmer
2. What is the source of heat generated by the core to the mantle?
A. gases
B. decayed radioactive elements
C. molten rocks
D. molten metals
3. Which of the following has a faster movement of molecules?
A. hot materials
B. warm materials
C. cold materials
D. room temperature materials
4. Which of the following has a lesser density in a convection cell?
A. warm fluid materials
B. cold fluid materials
C. room temperature fluid materials
D. hot fluid materials
5. In a convection current, hot materials move ______________.
A. any direction
B. sideward
C. upward
D. downward
6. The uplifting and tearing apart of lithosphere occurs at ___________________.
A. convergent boundary
B. divergent boundary
C. transform fault boundary
D. mantle
7. The idea that Earth’s lithosphere is broken up into separate plates that float on
the mantle is the theory of _____________.
A. continental drift
B. seafloor
C. tectonic movement spreading
D. plate tectonics
8. The region in which one plate moves under another is _______________.
A. rift valley
B. subduction zone
C. magma chamber
D. vent
9. A driving force for plate motion at mid-ocean ridges as a result of the rigid
lithosphere sliding down _______________.
A. slab pull
B. ridge push
C. convection current
D. seafloor spreading
10. The motion of gas or liquid caused by differences in temperature is a _________.
A. tectonic movement
B. plate tectonic
C. convection current
D. magma chamber
11. Where is the source of heat in a mantle convection current?
A. the Sun
B. the crust
C. the core
D. the moon
12. Which of the following is NOT a driving force of tectonic plates?
A. ridge push
B. slab push
C. drag force
D. mantle convection
13. It is a measure of how much mass there is in a volume of a substance.
A. volume
B. temperature
C. density
D. mass
14. The plastic-like upper portion of the mantle is called ______________.
A. the magma
B. the core
C. the lithosphere
D. the asthenosphere
15. Which of the following is NOT a method of heat transfer?
A. condensation
B. convection
C. conduction
D. radiation