Author Question: If you were going to explore a planet orbiting around a star other than our sun and you wanted to ... (Read 107 times)

maegan_martin · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

If you were going to explore a planet orbiting around a star other than our sun and you wanted to determine whether plate tectonics was occurring there, what would you look for?

What instruments would you bring to test for the operation of plate tectonics?
What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Of the various reasons to study Earth, which is the most important to you? Why?

What will be an ideal response?

macagn · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

I would look for volcanoes and steep mountains forming long narrow belts on the planet surface. I would bring an instrument to determine the location, depth, and size of earthquakes. I would use data from this instrument to see if earthquakes occurred in narrow zones that would imply plate boundaries, and if there was a difference in depth and size of earthquakes that might distinguish convergent plate boundary earthquakes and divergent plate boundary earthquakes.

Answer to Question 2

The answers will vary among the nine choices list in the text. The goal of this question is for each reader to think about and make a personal connection with the reasons to consider from among those listed in the text.