Description:
Students identify transform, divergent, and convergent plate boundaries from around the world. They form a hypothesis concerning which type of boundary may produce earthquakes of the greatest magnitude. (Specifically, students compare the severity of earthquakes along transform faults such as the San Andreas with those occuring at divergent and convergent boundaries such as Iceland and the west coast of South America, respectively.) They use the Internet to collect evidence to support or reject their hypothesis.

This investigation is under development. To participate in pilot testing, go to the website for NASA Goddard Earth and Space Science Education Project (GESSEP): http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/experimental/July61999siteupdate/inv99Project.Site/invhome.html and click on "To Pilot Investigations."

Organization:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

URL:
http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/experimental/all98invProject.Site/Pages/trl/inv1-1.html

Contact:
Activity Principal Investigator: Bruce Taliaferro

GESSEP Program Principal Investigator: Steve Gilligan
Email: charles1@mail.ameritel.net

GESSEP Program Co-Investigator: Vern Smith
Email: vern@aesp.nasa.okstate.edu

Cost:
Free over the Internet

Education Level:
Grades 9-12

Subject:
Earthquakes
Plate Tectonics

Resource Type:
Internet Site
Curriculum/Instructional Materials
 
 

Date Added to teachearth.com:
5/1/00