In 400 words
PART 1: INITIAL OBSERVATIONS AND HYPOTHESIS (10 pts)
Start by making some initial observations about the western boundary of the South America plate, and from those, develop a hypothesis regarding what is happening along this plate boundary.
Look at the image of South America on the first page of the overview document (see the Overview module above), and make observations features you see in regard to the topography for the western boundary of South America. In your observations, explain the topography in relation to the red plate boundary. Write your observations in the document attached below (Observations is worth 6 pts):
Movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates creates faults and causes earthquakes as the lithosphere pushes together, pulls apart, or slides past one another. All plate boundaries have earthquakes associated with their movement. As the movement occurs, the rocks will often break and grind together, releasing vibrations of energy into the ground. The earthquakes on plate boundaries can occur near the ground surface or deep below the ground. The technology we use to detect earthquakes can tell us exactly where the plate boundary occurs below the surface. The image on the right shows two blocks of earth that are sliding against each other. The location at which the rocks actually break during a single event is called the focus of the earthquake. The point on the earth’s surface that is directly above the focus is called the epicenter.
Based on your initial topography observations and the information above. Write a hypothesis for what type of plate boundary you expect for the western boundary of the South America plate. In your hypothesis, state the pattern you expect to see of the earthquakes for this type of plate boundary. Remember, a hypothesis must be something that can be tested to determine if it is true or not. Write your hypothesis in the document attached (Hypothesis is worth 4 pts)
Please finish before 11:30 central time
Movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates creates faults and causes earthquakes as the lithosphere
pushes together, pulls apart, or slides past one another. All plate boundaries have earthquakes
associated with their movement. As the movement occurs, the rocks will often break and grind
together, releasing vibrations of energy into the ground. The earthquakes on plate boundaries can
occur near the ground surface or deep below the ground. The technology we use to detect
earthquakes can tell us exactly where the plate boundary occurs below the surface. The image on
the right shows two blocks of earth that are sliding against each other. The location at which the
rocks actually break during a single event is called the focus of the earthquake. The point on the
earth’s surface that is directly above the focus is called the epicenter.
Based on your initial topography observations and the information above. Write a hypothesis for
what type of plate boundary you expect for the western boundary of the South America plate. In
your hypothesis, state the pattern you expect to see of the earthquakes for this type of plate
boundary. Remember, a hypothesis must be something that can be tested to determine if it is true
or not. Write your hypothesis in the document attached (Hypothesis is worth 4 pts)
Total Possible
Pts (of 100)
Hypothesis
10
Excellent
(full credit)
Observations and
hypothesis are present and
are tied to one another
Data is sufficiently
collected and for proper
location and time frame.
Justification provided.
Data
Collection
Needs work
Not Present
(partial credit)
(no credit)
Missing observations or
hypothesis or not clear No hypothesis stated
how they are related
Data is either insufficient,
Data was not collected and
wrong location, or wrong
justification was not
time frame AND/OR
justification not given.
provided.
Not all data are plotted
accurately or data plotted Data was not plotted nor was
are not appropriate explanation for decision
AND/OR explanation for
given.
decision was not given
Has tried to evaluate the
20
Presenting
the data
Data are plotted accurately
and according to the three
categories. Explain for
decision was given.
15
Demonstrates where
PART 1: INITIAL OBSERVATIONS AND HYPOTHESIS (10 pts)
Start by making some initial observations about the western boundary of the South America plate,
and from those, develop a hypothesis regarding what is happening along this plate boundary.
Look at the image of South America on the first page of the overview document (see the Overview
module above), and make observations features you see in regard to the topography for the western
boundary of South America. In your observations, explain the topography in relation to the red plate
boundary. Write your observations in the document attached below (Observations is worth 6 pts):
Mapping Earthquakes
Fault scarp
Epicenter
Fault
Focus
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