STARLAB PLANETARIUM

Plate Tectonics

Take a journey to the center of the Earth as we explore volcanoes, earthquakes, “hot spots” and rock layers. Find out if Africa was really once connected to South America, and if California is going to fall into the Pacific Ocean.

Science

Earth and Space Sciences

Benchmark B (Grade 9 – 10) Explain that many processes occur in patterns within the Earth’s systems

Grade 9 Indicator 4. Explain the relationships of the oceans to the lithosphere and atmosphere.

Benchmark E (Grade 9 – 10) Explain the processes that move and shape the Earth’s surface.

Grade 9 Indicator 5. Explain how the slow movement of material within Earth results from: a. thermal energy transfer (conduction and convection) from the deep interior; b. the action of gravitational forces on regions of different density.

Indicator 6. Explain the results of plate tectonic activity (e.g., magma generation, igneous intrusion, metamorphism, volcanic action, earthquakes, faulting and folding).

Indicator 7. Explain sea-floor spreading and continental drift using scientific evidence (e.g., fossil distributions, magnetic reversals and radiometric dating).

Benchmark F (Grade 9 – 10) Summarize the historical development of scientific theories and ideas, and describe emerging issues in the study of Earth and space sciences.

Grade 9 Indicator 8. Use historical examples to explain how new ideas are limited by the context in which they are conceived; are often initially rejected by the scientific establishment; sometimes spring from unexpected findings; and usually grow slowly through contributions from many different investigators.