Plate Puzzle 1 - Objectives and Demonstration on Plate Boundaries

Oct 26, 2026

Upload by Muffet

Elastic Rebound Theory explains how locked lithospheric plates accumulate stress, deform under pressure, and release energy during an earthquake as seismic waves. The document contrasts elastic versus flexible behavior using an elastic band analogy and a rock-slit demonstration to show how solid rocks rebound when pressure is removed. It then introduces “Plate Puzzle 1,” including background on plate tectonics, plate boundary types, lesson objectives, and related learning activities and follow-ups.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages29

Reading Time1 h 13 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Elastic Rebound Theory

Note on Flexible vs Elastic

The Demonstration

Rock Slit Method

Plate Puzzle 1

Objectives and Preparations

Introduction to “This Dynamic Planet” Map

Plate Puzzle Activity Description

9/3/2014 9/3/2014 9/3/2014 Divergent Boundary Transform Boundary Elastic Rocks Earthquakes in NC workshop Tim Martin [tmartin@greensboroday.org](tmartin@greensboroday.org) Background: Elastic Rebound Theory is a fundamental concept in understanding earthquakes. While the Earth’s tectonic plates are in constant motion, the rigid upper layers of the crust are frequently locked in position. As the lithospheric plates move (at an average rate of 5 cm or 2” per year) stress and strain will accumulate in the rigid surface rocks. The surface rocks will slowly bend and deform under the enormous pressure. This slow deformation will continue until an earthquake occurs and the locked rocks break. When the rupture occurs, the rocks will release the stored energy in the form of seismic waves. Along the earthquake fault, the deformed rocks will rebound (elastically) to a less stressed state. Note the difference between flexible and elastic. (Flexible means a substance is bendable whereas an elastic object maybend but it will return to its original position. ) The term elastic is frequently associated with rubber (elastic) bands. While simplistic, it is an appropriate model for demonstrating the elastic rebound in an earthquake. The elastic band will stretch (deform) until it reaches a breaking point. At the time of the break, the elastic band will snap back to its original less stressed state. The Demonstration: While students may easily understand the elasticity of a rubber band, the elastic properties of solid rocks is counter intuitive to most. This demonstration shows that rocks are truly elastic. Slit a long narrow rock sample (The example to the right was made from a cut-off piece from a kitchen counter top. (Igneous-gabbro) Others have successfully cut marble floor tile. ) A masonry saw blade or tile saw can be used to cut a slit down the length of the rock. Under pressure (squeezed) rock will deform. When released, the rock will return to the normal un-stressed state. This YouTube video from IRIS shows the demonstration. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPRLrk7UFbQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPRLrk7UFbQ) Plate Puzzle 1 Larry Braile Purdue University [braile@purdue.edu](braile@purdue.edu)[ ](braile@purdue.edu)[http://web.ics.purdue.edu/](http://web.ics.purdue.edu/)~braile Sheryl Braile Happy Hollow School April, 2000 (revised February, 2002; September, 2006) Objectives: Develop a better understanding of the Earth’s plates and their distribution. Explore plate motions and the interactions of the plates along the plate boundaries. Before beginning this activity, students should have a basic knowledge of the Earth’s plates, the lithosphere and asthenosphere, heat within the Earth, and the three types of plate boundaries – divergent, convergent and transform. Similar activities are contained in Tremor Troop (the FEMA/NSTA earthquake curriculum for grades K-6) on pages 43-44 and 56-60, and on Masters 13, 14a and 14b; and at: [http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/research/deformation/modeling/teaching/puzzle/](http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/research/deformation/modeling/teaching/puzzle/. Good)[. Good](http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/research/deformation/modeling/teaching/puzzle/. Good) activities to precede this lesson are the foam models of the lithosphere and the epicenter plotting activities. Good follow-up activities are: plate tectonics flip book, epicenter plotting using program Seismic Eruption, earthquake location, and thermal convection ([http://web.ics.purdue.edu/](http://web.ics.purdue.edu/)~braile; these activities could also be performed before the Plate Puzzle* lesson; in this case, the Plate Puzzle activity is an excellent authentic assessment tool) . Note: This is a revised description of this activity due to the release of a new version (2006) of the “This Dynamic Planet” map. * MS Word and PDF versions of this document are located at: [http://web.ics.purdue.edu/](http://web.ics.purdue.edu/)

FAQs

What does Elastic Rebound Theory explain about earthquakes?

It explains how stress accumulates when lithospheric plates are locked, how rocks deform slowly, and how stored energy releases when the rocks break along a fault, producing seismic waves.

How does the demonstration show that rocks are elastic?

A slit is cut along a narrow rock sample; under pressure the rock deforms, and when pressure is released it returns to an unstressed state, showing elastic rebound.

What are the objectives of the Plate Puzzle 1 activity?

Students develop understanding of Earth’s plates and their distribution, explore plate motions, and examine how plates interact along divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.

Oct 26, 2026

Upload by Muffet