1. Plate Tectonics
7th Grade Science

2. Lesson 1
Earthquake- vibrations in the earth caused by sudden release of energy, as a result of the movement of rocks along a fault
Seismologist- scientist who studies earthquakes

3. Lesson 2 Earthquake Waves
P-Wave: primary wave, first and compressional (back and forth)
S-Wave: secondary, second and moves at right angles, much rougher
Surface Waves: Elliptical and back and forth on surface of earth, most destructive

4. Lesson 3 Seismogram- paper that records earthquake
Seismograph- device that measures an earthquake’s intensity
Epicenter – imaginary point on earth that sits on top of the focus
Focus – where the earthquake begins inside the earth

5. Earthquake Diagram

6. Lesson 4
Plate Boundary-pieces of broken lithosphere meet, 3 types Convergent (collide), Divergent (divide) and transform (slide)
Ring of Fire-encircles the Pacific Ocean, an area of volcanic and earthquake activity
Magnitude- measure of total amount of energy released in an earthquake, each interval 32 times more energy is released, Richter scale measures
Intensity- measure of damage done during an earthquake, Mercalli scale measures

7. Lessons 1-4 Challenge Words
Liquefaction: strength and stiffness of soil is reduced by earthquake shaking, occurs in saturated soils and allows soil particles to move (think of liquid vs. solid)
Lithosphere: crust and uppermost mantle, where earthquakes occur
Subduction Zone: 2 lithospheric plates come together

8. Lesson 5 – Use your apple diagram for the parts of the earth
Parts of the Earth (inside to outside)-think of an apple
Inner Core/like the seeds of an apple
Outer Core/pocket that holds the seeds
Mantle/meaty part of the apple-what you eat
Asthenosphere/in upp. Mantle, layer
that allows the lithosphere or our plates to move
Lithosphere/bite out of the apple-upp.mantle/crust
or a plate
Crust/skin of the apple

9. Lesson 6
Lithosphere: Cool, solid outer shell of earth which is made of Crust and Upper Mantle and makes up our plates
Asthenosphere: layer of mantle directly below the lithosphere and allows the lithosphere to move.
Mid-Ocean Ridge: A mountainlike landform that develops when plates separate and new ocean lithosphere forms, Divergent Boundary
Subduction: The movement of a tectonic plate beneath another plate Ex. Oceanic lithosphere is more dense and subducts beneath the Continental lithosphere, Convergent Boundary

10. Lesson 7
Friction – surface resistance between two objects, ex. Plates rubbing against one another, the greater the friction, the greater the force or resulting earthquake.
Plate Tectonics: Theory that lithosphere is broken into segments/plates that float on the asthenosphere and is associated with earthquakes, and volcanic activity.

11. Lesson 8
Convection in the Mantle: the heat from our core travels to the Mantle and rises since it is less dense than the cooler material at the top of the mantle. The cooler material is more dense so it sinks. This cycle repeats itself and is known as a convection current. (Think about our Convection experiment with the bottle and candle. ) This process drives our plate movement.

12. Plate Boundaries, Pangaea, and the Pacific Ring of Fire
Plate Boundaries Map – shows us the separation between plates and where earthquakes and volcanic activity might occur
Divergent – divide or pull apart, ex. Mid Atlantic Ridge
Convergent – collide and form mountains, ex. Himalayas
Transform– slide next to one another, ex. San Andreas fault
Pangaea – when all the continents were connected over 250 million years ago, evidence rock, fossil and climate clues
Pacific Ring of Fire – area that encircles the Pacific Ocean and is home to most earthquake and volcanic activity

13. Lessons 9 – 12 (Our destructive and constructive Volcanoes)
Volcano – a mountain with a crater or vent in which molten material, gas, and ash can escape
Types of:
Shield: has gently sloping sides and gentler eruptions ex. Mt. Kilauea, Hawaii
Cinder-cone: Steep mountain with large cone like crater at the time, can have great eruptions ex. Paricutin in Mexico
Composite or Stratovolcano: Made of alternating layers of lava or ash, can have major eruptions, Ex. Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines

14. Volcano types
Shield Volcano
Cinder-cone
Composite or Stratovolcano

15. More Vocabulary
Volcanic Ash/tephra: Trapped gases from a volcano emit these tiny fragments of volcanic remains/glass into the atmosphere
Magma: Molten material beneath the earth’s surface
Lava: Molten material on the earth’s surface
Hot Ash Cloud: the pressure released during a volcanic eruption can produce these clouds due to density differences between ash and air and convection

17. Instruments used to study Volcanoes
Seismograph
Gas Sensors
Tiltmeter