Unit Plan
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Exploring Earth's Seismicity

For Students 9th - 10th
This sequence is an introduction to plate tectonics using evidence from topographical maps, earthquake location and depth, and volcano location using the Seismic Explorer model to investigate patterns of earthquake data and to infer the...
Handout
Purdue University

Purdue University: Thermal Convection

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students build a model representing the properties of Earth's mantle, illustrating how thermal energy creates movement in a fluid.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Heat Convection

For Students 9th - 10th
Using understandable words and exceptional graphics, this page describes the transfer of energy by means of the convection process. Contains several links to related topics.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Pie Pan Convection

For Students 9th - 10th
In this experiment, students observe what happens when a pan of soapy, colored water is heated. They will see that convection currents cause the fluid to rise and sink in a localized convection cell.
Handout
University of Calgary

University of Calgary: Energy Education: Geothermal Gradient

For Students 9th - 10th
A good, concise explanation of the geothermal gradient and how and why the Earth's temperature gets hotter and hotter with increasing depth. Includes two diagrams showing this and the heat transfer mechanisms that are taking place.