Inside Earth WebQuest

Introduction

A WebQuest is a internet based activity that will provide you with information that will be useful in class. When completing this WebQuest you will visit many Web sites that will enhance your knowledge in the areas of the earth's interior (layers), heat transfer, continental drift and plate tectonics.

Task

This WebQuest is divided into sections similar to your "Inside Earth" text book. When you come to a link (always in orange), click it. The link will bring you to an outside Web site that will provide you with information on the above topics. After reading the entire Web page answer the questions that follow.

On the day of each section quiz, your WebQuest worksheet will be collected and checked for completion. You will be given a quiz grade for each section. For addtional worksheets use the links below.

In addition to completing the WebQuest worksheet you will be required to complete a project demonstrating what you have learned during this chapter and WebQuest. You will have a choice of three projects; constructing an "Inside Earth" board game, a 3 dimensional model of Earth's interior, or a model demonstrating the theory of Plate Tectonics.  To get the criteria for both of these assignments review the expectations below or view rubrics that are in the evaluation section of this WebQuest.

The criteria for this assignment must include the following:

• The board game must include:
  • A colored sketch and description
    • (Due Wednesday December 12^th)
  • An appropriate “Catchy Title”
  • Game Board on a sturdy surface
  • Game Pieces
  • Game Cards made of card stock or oak tag
  • User friendly directions and rules

• Layer of Earth model must include:
  • A colored sketch of the model and explanation of the material choices
    • (Due Wednesday December 12^th)
  • Accurate representation of the 3 layers of Earth and sub-layers
  • Layers and sub-layers must be clearly labeled and described
  • Model must be proportional to the actual layers of Earth's interior

• Plate tectonic model must include:
  • A colored sketch of the model and explanation of the material choices
    • (Due Wednesday December 12^th)
  • Accurate representation of convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries, clearly labeling each boundary and processes including sea-floor spreading, subduction, etc.
  • Factors caused by plate activity, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

Process

Part 1: Earth's Interior

Earth is many thousand kilometers in depth. If you could travel deep into the earth's surface you would find that it contains three main layers; the crust, mantle and core. To learn more about the layers of Earth, click the following links and answer the questions that follow.

Go to The Earth's Interior

• How is Earth's interior like an apple?
• The lithosphere is divided into 2 parts (or crust).
  • What are they called?
  • What is the thickness of each part?
  • What are these parts primarily made of?

Click on the Volcano World link. After reading each slide click the "next" button and proceed to read the next slide. When you have examined all of the slides, complete the questions on the "questions" slide. These questions are also below.

• Name the five layers of the earth in order from the outside to the center of the earth.
• What causes the mantle to "flow"?
• What are the two main metals that make up the outer and inner core?
• Describe in your own words how the earth's layers were formed. (Slide 2 will help you.)

Part 2: Convection Currents and the Mantle

Heat transfer is the movement of heat from a warmer object to a cooler object. There are three ways in which heat can be transferred; conduction, convection and/or radiation. Click on the links below and answer the questions that follow.

Convection, Conduction and Radiation & Heat Transfer

• How is heat transferred by conduction?
• Explain the process of convection.
• How is heat transferred by radiation?
• If air is a fluid, why isn't convection responsible for transferring heat to Earth from the sun?

Test your knowledge! Scroll back to the top of the Heat Transfer Web page and take the "Mini Quiz".

As you already know, the earth's mantle contains two layers; the stratosphere (tough liquid part of the outer mantle) and the lithosphere (the stiffer outer mantle and the crust). Because of the intense pressure and temperature in the mantle convection currents occur. To learn about what influence these convection currents have on Earth, read the Web page below and answer the questions that follow.

The Mantle

• Describe how convection currents occur in Earth's mantle.
• What is a constructive force caused by the convection currents in the earth's mantle?
• What is a destructive force caused by the convection currents in the earth's mantle?

Part 3: Drifting Continents

The theory of continental drift originated from a German scientist named Alfred Wegener who proposed that there was once a super continent called Pangaea ("all lands"). Wegener proposed that over time the continents drifted apart. Read through the following link to learn about Wegener's theory of continental drift.

Continental Drift

• What 5 factors did Wegener use to support his theory?
• List three of the arguments of geologists that disproved Wegener's theory.
• Arthur Holmes came up with his own theory of drifting continents in 1928. What was his theory?

Part 4: Sea-Floor Spreading

The movement of plates caused by convection currents causes both constructive and destructive forces beneath the ocean floor. To learn more about this topic click on the link below and answer the questions that follow.

Sea-Floor Spreading

• What two Earth changing events can occur when the plates underneath the ocean spread?
• What is an ocean ridge?
• Why are two plates spreading considered to be 'constructive'?
• What is subduction?
• What is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge? How many miles does it stretch?

Part 5: The Theory of Plate Tectonics

The theory of plate tectonics was formulated in the 1960s and 1970s when new information was discovered about the inside of Earth. To learn more, click on the links below, read the Web page and answer the questions that follow.

Plate Tectonics

• What is the theory of plate tectonics?
• What new information led to the theory of plate tectonics?
• About how fast to the plates move in relation to each other each year?
• What is it called when two plates meet?

Convergent Boundaries

• What are convergent boundaries?
• What occurs when a continental and an oceanic plate collide?
• When an oceanic plate digs into Earth's hot interior, what occurs?
• How were the Andes Mountains in South America formed?

Divergent Boundaries

• What are divergent boundaries?
• Explain how volcanoes form in the central valley of a divergent boundary?
• How much does the Atlantic ocean widen per year due to divergent boundaries?

Transform Boundaries

• What are transform boundaries?
• What could happen to to a stream bed that is split by a transform boundary?
• Name one of Earth's most famous transform boundary? Where is it located?
• True or False?
  • Do to transforming plates, Los Angeles will break away from California. Explain your answer.

Conclusion

Great job! You have put a lot of hard work into answering the questions above. Now that you have all of this new knowledge, it is time to demonstrate it. Choose & complete one of the projects explained in the task section of this WebQuest. Make sure to read through the rubric so that you can earn that A.

Evaluation

Web Resources

The Earth's Interior

Volcano World

The Mantle

Convection, Conduction and Radiation

Conduction

Heat Transfer

Convection Currents: Currents in the Earth's System

Plate Tectonics

Earth's Continental Plates - ZoomSchool.com