Question

Plate tectonics is the theory that the Earth’s crust is made up of plates that glide over a layer of mantle. A prediction of this theory is that the plates will move relative to each other as they move over the mantle. To test this hypothesis, a scientist places a marker on two adjacent plates to measure their movement over a decade. What would be the expected result of the experiment? How would you interpret the results if the scientist sees no movement?

Answer 1

The expected result of this experiment would be that the two plates would not only collide but also slide horizontally past each other. If the scientist sees no movement from the experiment I would try to make them have convergent boundaries which are two plates colliding to form mountains or a subduction zone.

Answer 2

I hope that helped. ^

Answer 3

Based on the theory of plate tectonics, it is expected that the two plates will move relative to each other over the decade-long period. If the scientist sees no movement, it suggests that either the plates are not moving or the marker was not placed accurately on the plates. The scientist would need to verify the accuracy of the marker placement and repeat the experiment to confirm the results. Alternatively, it could suggest that the movement of the plates is happening too slowly to be detected over the period of the experiment. In either case, further investigation is necessary to determine the validity of the hypothesis.