Earth Sciences Assignment: Density, Plate Boundaries, and Experiments

This Earth Sciences assignment explores the concepts of density and plate tectonics through an experiment and question-answer format. The experiment involves observing how different materials (water, vegetable oil, plastic beads, paper clips, and wooden blocks) settle based on their densities, mirroring the layering of Earth's core, mantle, and crust. The assignment then delves into plate boundaries, differentiating between convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. It discusses the features formed at each boundary type, such as mountains, new sea floors, and volcanoes, and provides real-world examples like the Himalayas, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and the San Andreas Fault. The assignment also references a video showing divergent oceanic boundaries and the role of convection currents in plate movement and volcanic formation.

Running head: EARTH SCIENCES
EARTH SCIENCES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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The materials water, vegetable oils, paper clip, plastic beads, and wooden blocks will
float according to their densities. After the materials are added in a glass and stirred the materials
will start settling down on top of each other.
The vegetable oil being lighter in density than water will float above the water in the
form of a thin layer. The plastic bead will also float on top of the oil layer being lighter in density
than the fluids. The paper clip will drown and settle in the bottom, being heavier than the water.
The materials have floated according to the estimation that has been made. The plastic
beads and the wooden blocks have floated owing to their density. The paper clips having higher
density have settled at the bottom. The materials have settled accordingly due to the varying
density of the materials.
The inner core is the densest layer and has therefore settled in the deepest part of the
Earth. The earth was in a molten state in its initial phase of formation and gradually the
materials settled down according to their density. The matter with the highest density settled in
Water
Plastic beads
Wooden blocks
Vegetable Oils
Paper clips

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the lowest sections and the subsequent layers settled according to the varying densities on top of
each other.
The following Table gives an insight into densities of the materials and arranges them according
to the least dense to the heaviest density.
Element Density in g/cm3
Nitrogen 0.0013
Oxygen 0.0014
Sodium 0.97
Calcium 1.54
Magnesium 1.74
Silicon 2.33
Aluminium 2.7
Iron 7.87
Nickel 8.91
Table no. 1: Density of materials according to least dense to heaviest dense. (Source: Created by
author)
Looking at the table we can understand the kind of materials available at the core and that at the
crust. It is very obvious that the denser materials will be deposited at the core while the less
dense will tend to accumulate at the crust.
The elements Iron, and Nickel will be found at the core owing to their greater densities and
heavier properties.
The elements Silicon, Aluminum, Magnesium and Calcium will be generally found at the crust.
Since these materials are lighter than those of the elements the core owing to their lower
densities, these elements have settled in the crust of the Earth.
The elements with the lightest densities are available in the atmosphere. These include Nitrogen
and Oxygen. These have the lowest densities and are generally available in the form of gas.

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In the experiment the mixture separated in to layers, due to the varying densities of the materials.
The water being denser than Vegetable oil, plastic beads, and wooden blocks settled in above the
water. The paper clips due to their high density as compared to water settled in the lowest layers.
The paper clip had the highest density since they settled in the lowest portion.
The plastic beads had the lowest density and therefore remained suspended above the oil.
Continental convergent Boundary:
Response to question no. 1
Towards Each other.
Response to question no. 2
The Primary features that are formed from convergent plate boundaries are mountains.
Response to question no. 3
Himalayas-India
The Plate Boundaries
Convergent Plate Boundaries. Divergent Plate Boundaries

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Response to Question no. 8
Graham Cracker Boundary.
Transform boundaries
Transform boundaries The Graham Cracker Boundary.
At the Transform Boundaries the Plates slide past each other generally resulting in earth quakes.
Response to Question no. 5
The plates at Transform Boundaries slide past one another
Response to Question no. 6
At the Transform Boundaries the Plates slide past each other generally resulting in earth quakes
Response to Question no. 7
San Andreas Fault California is a an example of the outcome of the Transform Boundaries
Response to Question no. 9
The plates move away from each other at the Oceanic-Divergent boundaries.

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Response to Question no. 10
The features created at this type of boundaries are generally new sea floors.
Response to Question no. 11
The Mid Atlantic Ridge is formed due to oceanic-divergent boundaries.
Response to Question no. 13
The plates at Continental-Oceanic convergent Boundary move towards each other.
Response to Question no. 14
Volcanoes are generally formed at the Continental-Oceanic convergent Boundaries.
Response to Question no. 15
The Pacific-ring of fire is an example of the outcome of Continental-Oceanic convergent
Boundaries
Response to Question no. 16
The video shows divergent oceanic boundaries which result in the formation of Volcanos. The
convection current in the mantle region leads to the movement of the oceanic plates. The hot
convective current moves the plates away from each other creating new sea floors and the end
result leads to the formation of volcanoes.

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In the experiment the elements, water, Vegetable Oil,