University of Phoenix Material

Effects of the Motions of Tectonic Plates Worksheet

From Visualizing Earth Science, by Merali, Z., and Skinner, B. J, 2009, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Copyright 2009 by Wiley. Adapted with permission.

Part 1

This diagram was similar to one Alfred Wegener drew to show the distribution of continents 300 million years ago. His theory of continental drift was met with skepticism in the scientific community.

[pic]

1. Describe three forms of evidence Wegener used to support his ideas of continental drift. Wegner suggested that the continental shelves of the continents seemed to fit together similar to a puzzle. According Bugielski (1999), "continents in the southern hemisphere exhibit an
In addition, as the tectonic plates move and cause volcanoes to erupt their magma is spewing molten rock that is hardening at the earths surface sometimes causing the sea floor to change in depth and eventually creating a new piece of land. (Bugielski, 1999).

Bugielski, M. (1999). The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Retrieved from http://loki.stockton.edu/~hozikm/geol/Courses/The%20Earth/Content%20Web%20Pages/Bugielski/webpage.htm

Raunekk, . (2010). BriteHub. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/74098.aspx

3. How does the motion of the tectonic plates affect the distribution of organisms? Tectonic plates play a key role in distributing organisms. Due to the continents having been joined millions of years ago, it was easier for organisms to roam from one area to the next, that is why some continents have the sames animals, just different breeds. Most likely they started as the same animal on the continents however due to evolution and mutated genes species began to change. It is similar to explorers bringing different breeds of cats and dogs to other continents via boats.

Part 3

Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis have all been linked to plate movement. Indicate how plate movement would create them.

1. Earthquakes: Earthquakes are created from pressure being built up from the movement of the