GRADE 7 SCIENCE

UNIT 4: THE EARTHS CRUST

11/12
Earths Crust is constantly changing
Weathering and Erosion

Earths Structure - Layers of the Earth

Draw a labeled
Diagram

Layers of the Earth Raps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9j1xGaxYzY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiHRI_Z2Kgs

Layers Of the Earth

1.
2.
3.
4.

Inner Core
Outer Core
Mantle
Crust

Inner Core
Position: In the center of the earth
(deepest)
Size: Second smallest
Description: Made of Solid iron and
nickel

Outer Core
Position: Between the inner core and
mantle
Size: Second thickest layer
Description: Made of liquid iron and
nickel

Mantle
Position: Between the crust and
outer core
Size: The thickest layer
Description: Partly Molten. Looks
plastic-like (silly putty)

Crust
Position: On the outside of the earth
Size: The thinnest layer
Description: The Continental (land)
crust is thicker than the oceanic
(ocean floor) crust

The Crust - In detail

The crust is broken into pieces (ocean and land
crust)!
These pieces are called Plates.
The plates are always moving!

Plate Jigsaw activity!

Plate Tectonic Theory

How did we come to understand Earth
Science?
Scientists and Technology!

Alfred Wegener
Saw the continents fit like
a puzzle
He proposed the Theory of
Continental Drift

Theory of Continental Drift

A Theory that:
the continents move
There was a lot of evidence to support this

Problem: There was no mechanism to cause

the movement!

Pangea
The supercontinent made
when all the continents were
together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=cQVoSyVu9rk

4 pieces of evidence for continental drift

1. Continental fit: The
continents seem to fit
together (Africa and
South America)

4 pieces of evidence for continental drift

2. Fossils: The same type of
fossil are found on different
continents (Canada and
Europe)

4 pieces of evidence for continental drift

3. Rock layers: The same
type of rock layers on
different continents

4 pieces of evidence for continental drift

4. Climate: Coal that
forms in warmer
climate only is found in
Antarctica!

Technologies Used in Earth Science

Sonar
Magnetometers
Deep sea drilling

Magnetometer paper
activity

Remember!
Although there was a lot of Evidence There was no accepted mechanism
(No force that caused the continents to drift)
So Continental Drift was rejected!

Plate Tectonics
New technology and data were found!
The theory of continental drift became the
Plate Tectonic Theory

Theory of continental Drift to Plate tectonics

video
1:22 - 10:15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrKTuCDierM

Plate Tectonics

Plate: each pieces of the Earth's crust

Plate Boundary: The edges of plates. Where two
plates meet

The Driving Force Behind Theory of Plate

Tectonics
Convection Currents: the
heated rock in the mantle
rises then cools and sinks.
This moves the plates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=ryrXAGY1dmE

3 Types of Plate Boundaries

1. Divergent
Description: When the plates move away from one another
Force: Pulling apart
Results: Volcanoes and earthquakes

3 Types of Plate Boundaries

2. Convergent:
Description: When the plates move toward each other
Force: Pushing together
Results: Volcanoes, earthquakes and mountains

3 Types of Plate Boundaries

2. Transform:
Description: When the plates move alongside each other
Force: sliding past
Results: Earthquakes

3 plate boundaries video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mWQs1_L3fA

Canadian Earth Scientists!

J. Tuzo Wilson - proposed the third
type of plate movement - Transform
boundaries!

Canadian Earth Scientists!

Joseph Tyrrell - discovered dinosaur
fossils in Alberta,
It proved that the local climate was
warmer at an earlier time.

Canadian Earth Scientists!

Harold Williams - (Newfoundlander!)
highlighted that plate tectonic activity
happened on the eastern edge of North
America.

Catastrophic Events from plate boundaries!

Earthquakes and Volcanoes!

Discussion questions
1. Do earthquakes and volcanoes occur in NL?

2. Is there evidence that Earthquakes or

volcanoes occurred here in the past?

Earthquakes
Definition: The shaking of the earth
Caused by: The release of energy from plate movement in
Earths crust.
When this energy is released, it travels in waves (seismic
waves).
Example: Tsunami that hit burin peninsula

Seismograph
The device used to record earthquakes.

Volcanoes
Description: an opening in the Earths crust.
Caused by: Plate movement at boundaries
Example: Mount St. Helens in Washington D.C. - in the United
States
3 Locations volcanoes form:
1.
2.
3.

Convergent plate boundaries

Divergent plate boundaries
Hot spots

Volcanoes - 3 locations
1. Convergent plate boundaries
Description: Intense pressure melts rock that later flows to
the surface as a volcano
Example: the Pacific Ocean is being subducted under
Japan.

Volcanoes - 3 locations
2. Divergent plate boundaries
Description: Molten rock flows up to the surface
Example: The mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Volcanoes - 3 locations
3. Hot spots:
Description: Areas where the crust is thin magma can be
forced up through the cracks
Example: The Hawaiian Islands.

Pattern of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Occur mostly along the ring of fire (along plate
boundaries!)

Past Theories for Volcanoes & Earthquakes

Pele: The Hawaiian goddess who makes the mountains
shake and lava flow at Kilauea, Hawaii

Glooscap: Mikmaq legend about how Glooscap (the first

man) turned a beaver into the Sugarloaf Mountains.

Weathering and Erosion

How could these

rock formations
occur?

Weathering
The mechanical and/or chemical breakdown of rock.

There are 2 Types:

1. Chemical
2. Mechanical

1. Mechanical Weathering
The physical breakdown of rocks into smaller
fragments.
Examples:
a. Frost Wedge: Ice breaking apart the rock
(most common)
b. Movement by plants/animals: burrowing
through rock

2. Chemical Weathering
When chemical reactions break down rocks.
Examples:
a. Acid rain: the acid slowly breaks up the rock
b. Chemicals made by animals: lichens chemicals break
down rock

Erosion
The process that loosens and moves weathered rock
particles (sediment) over Earths surface

Agents of Erosion
1. Water in motion (most powerful)
2. Meteorological processes (rain and
wind)
3. geological processes (gravity and
glaciers)

Weathering Vs. Erosion What's the difference?

Weathering Vs. Erosion What's the difference?

Weathering breaks up the rock

Erosion moves the rock!