Name
Date
Class
Plate Tectonics Lab Report
TITLE:
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INTRODUCTION:
A. Purpose/Testable Question:
The purpose is to describe how convection currents in the Earth’s mantle affect plate tectonics.
B. Background/Research Information:
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C. Hypothesis:
If one puts a hot and cold container of water into a room temperature container of water
then _________________________________________________________________________
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because ______________________________________________________________________
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D. Variables/Controls:
Independent Variable: (What will change in the experiment?)
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Dependent Variable: (What will be observed?)
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Controlled Variables: (What will you keep the same in the experiment?)
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SAFETY: (List at least two specific steps taken during the experiment in order to keep the lab
area safe. Include information about hazardous substances, precautions taken and any lab safety
equipment needed.
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MATERIALS: (What items are needed to perform the experiment?)
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PROCEDURE: (Write numbered step-by-step instructions on how to perform the experiment. Be
specific and focused on actions.)
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DATA & RESULTS: (Create a table to organize your observations. The lab report observations
must be information written using complete sentences and in a neat and orderly form.
Observation
Time
1
0 minute
2
1 minute
3
2 minutes
Written Description
Diagram
Observation
Time
4
3 minutes
5
4 minutes
6
5 minutes
Written Description
Diagram
CONCLUSIONS:
Conclusion: Answer each question when completing your conclusion.
1. Describe what happened to both containers of colored water from your small container.
2. What happened to the small pieces of paper you placed on the top of the water?
3. What type of heat transfer took place in the bottle? How do you know?
4. Which part of this model represented the tectonic plates?
5. Which part of this model represented the Earth’s mantle?
6. How does your data support or reject your hypothesis?
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7. How does your conclusion relate to the information you learned in class or background
information you researched?
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8. How does this laboratory allow you to gain a better understanding of how the convection
currents found within the Earth’s mantle affect the crust and its tectonic plates?
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REFERENCES: Outside sources must be cited. APA citations should be used. (Bibme.org)
Bernstein, L. (2003). What causes plate tectonics?. Earth science concepts and
challenges (4th ed.). (pp. 146-147). Parsippany, N.J.: Globe Fearon Educational Publisher.
Luhr, James F. (2003). The Core and Mantle. Earth (pp.56-57). New York: DK Pub..
Padilla, M. J., Miaoulis, I., Pasachoff, J. M., Frank, D. V., Jones, T. G., Wainwright, C. L., et
al. (2009). Convection in the Mantle. (pp.14-17). Prentice Hall science explorer. Boston,
Mass.: Pearson.
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