Plate Tectonics: Continental Drift

SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS/PROCESSES

• Creating models is one way to understand and communicate scientific information
• The earth is over four billion years old and different events have occurred on earth during different periods of time
• Fossils provide important evidence about how life and environmental conditions on the earth have changed over geological time
• The continents are part of large lithospheric plates that have moved over geological time and continue to move at a rate of centimeters per year
• Tracing the history of science demonstrates how individuals contributed to the development of modern scientific ideas, and reveals important interactions between science and society

This is a two-part investigation into the chemical concepts that underlie corrosion and our attempts to inhibit it. In the laboratory portion of this activity, students investigate the corrosion of iron, steel, aluminum, and zinc metal. They investigate the impact of factors such as salinity, coatings, and contact with other metals on rust and corrosion. Students also complete a reading that describes some conditions that affect the rate of corrosion of iron and steel and several chemical principles associated with these conditions. The activity concludes with a discussion of the impact of corrosion on materials and the environment.

Contents List

• 1 Teacher’s Guide with MSDS
• 28 Student Worksheet and Guides
• 6 LAB-AIDS® World Puzzle pieces, sets of 7
• 6 Earth’s Surface Through Geological Time Cards
• 1 Transparency 1: World Map
• 2 Transparency 2: Puzzle Key

Measurements are approximate.