Names:_____Jennifer Moloney______, ___________, _________, _________
Graham Cracker Plate Tectonics Lab
Just a little info…
The Theory of Plate Tectonics states that the crust of the Earth is composed of seven
major plates and numerous smaller plates. These plates “ride” on the hot plastic upper
mantle called the asthenosphere. This theory also says that most of these plates are in
motion, creating
a variety of interactions at the plate boundaries. As plate boundaries, plates may
converge, diverge, or slip (lateral) past each other in a horizontal motion. In addition,
some plates may appear to be inactive.
Pre-lab Questions: (In complete sentences with the exception of TRUE/FALSE!)
What is subduction?
Subduction occurs when a convergent boundary is formed and one tectonic plate slips under another. This
causes the plate to go into the mantle.
Explain what a divergent boundary is.
A divergent boundary is formed when two tectonic plates slide or move away from one another, sometimes
forming rifts.
Explain what a convergent boundary is.
A convergent boundary is formed when two tectonic plates collide into one another, usually causing one of the
plates to slide under the other (subduction)
Explain what a transform boundary is.
A transform boundary occurs when two tectonic plates slide past or against one another. These usually cause
earthquakes and tsunamis.
True or False. When sea-floor spreading occurs, new crust is added to the ocean floor.
True
6. What is a fault?
A fault is formed which two plates break from one another and leave a sharp edge or drop from one to the
other.
7. Which type of boundary (divergent, convergent, or transform) do the most
earthquakes occur on?
Transform.
8. Explain what convection currents are.
Convection currents are the liquid in the mantle and the ocean that moves in continuous circles as the warm liquid cools and moves
to the bottom and the cool water becomes warmer and rises.
Materials (per group)
Graham crackers (2 whole crackers)
Spoonful of cool whip or frosting (per group)
Knives or spoons
Wax paper or paper plates
Foam Board
Cup of water
Procedures- Sea Floor Spreading
Break a whole graham cracker into two square pieces by following the perforations on
the cracker.
Using the knives or spoons, spread a thick layer of cool whip in the center of the paper
plate or wax paper.
Lay two pieces of the graham cracker side by side on top of the cool whip.
To imitate sea-floor spreading, press down lightly on the crackers as you slowly push down and
apart in opposite directions. Do not push the crackers more than 1 centimeter apart!
Remove the graham crackers from the cool whip.
Questions (Complete sentences)
What happened to the cool whip between the crackers?
The cool whip got pushed to each respective side that the cracker moved it to. There was little left in the middle and more on the
sides.
What do the graham crackers represent?
The graham crackers represent the tectonic plates.
What does the cool whip represent?
The mantle and molten lava underneath the crust.
Procedures: Convergent Plate Boundaries- Oceanic and Continental
Now lay a WHOLE of graham cracker and the foam board end-to-end (against each other)
on top of the cool whip. The graham cracker represents the thin but dense oceanic
plate while the foam board represents the thicker but less dense continental plate.
Push the two “plate” models slowly toward each other and observe which plate rides up
over the other. On the actual surface of the earth, the lower and more dense plate
is subducted.
Questions (Complete Sentences):
Which plate is more dense: continental or oceanic?
Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust
Which plate will subduct or sink under the other?
The graham cracker, or oceanic plate, will sink under the other, because it is denser and heavier.
Why do you suppose oceanic crust is so dense and heavy?
The matier of basalt used in oceanic plates makes it heavier.
More Procedures: Convergent Boundaries- Continental
Re-use the graham cracker used above for this activity. Break the graham cracker into
four pieces- use only two and save the remaining two pieces of graham cracker for the
next section. Each piece of graham cracker represents a continental plate.
Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers two centimeters into a cup of water.
IMMEDIATELY remove the crackers and lay them end to end on the cool whip with
the wet edges nearly touching.
Slowly push the two crackers together.
Questions:
What happens to the wet ends of the graham crackers?
The wet ends of the graham crackers get pushed together and begin to form extra material and buildup.
In what way do the wet crackers act more like the real crustal plates than the dry crackers?
They are more moldable and easier to move and manipulate over the frosting.
When two continental plates collide in a convergent boundary, they squeeze together
to form what? (Page 153)
Mountains or other things protruding from the surface.
Procedures: Transform Boundaries
Use the two remaining graham cracker pieces for this part of the lab. Fit the two
pieces together side to side on top of the cool whip on the paper.
Place one hand on each of the cracker pieces and push them together by applying steady,
moderate pressure. At the same time, also push one of the pieces away from you while
pulling the other toward you. If you do this correctly, the cracker should hold while
you increase the push-pull pressure, but will finally break from the opposite forces.
Questions
Why is this movement often described as “horizontal” sliding?
The plates are seen as just sliding next to one another, with no up or down movement, meaning it is just horizontal.
What natural disaster occurs often near this type of boundary? (page 153)
Earthquakes!!
FINAL QUESTIONS: USE YOUR BOOK TO ANSWER IN COMPLETE SENTENCES
What are plates?
Tectonic plates make up the land and sea that Earth is built upon.
What do scientists think causes the movement of Earth’s plates?
Tectonic plates move from the convection currents until the mantle pulling them apart and causing them to move and hit one another.
If oceanic crust collides with continental crust-what will most likely happen?
The oceanic crust will typically sink under the continental crust by subduction, because the oceanic crust is heavier and denser than
the continental crust.
Why do you think it was so important to science when Alfie Wegener and Harry Hess
proved their theories of continental drift and sea-floor spreading? Explain your answer
in at LEAST 4 sentences!
When Wegener finally came up with his theory for continental drift, it was the first time
that world got a reasoning behind the movements of the plates. Although he was not
completely correct, it laid the blueprints for modern scientists to better understand
how the ocean and land moves and interacts with one another. As well, sea-floor
spreading helped understand why the ocean was changing sizes, and now lets researchers
see what the environemetnal impact will be on the rest of Earth. If it were not for these
theories and their extensive backup, we would not know the way the plates move and how
and why they cause natural disasters such as volcanos and earthquakes.
