Original Project
Plate Tectonics
Item PT040002: Mountains form when plate material slowly bends over time.
When two plates press together and a mountain begins to form, which of the following happens?
- The plate slowly begins to bend, because even though the plate material is hard, it can still be bent and folded over a very long period of time.
- The plate material from one plate breaks off into small pieces of rock that are about the size of tennis balls, because plates cannot bend.
- The plate material from one plate breaks off into large pieces of rock that are about the size of huge boulders, because plates cannot bend.
- The plate material from one plate breaks off into massive blocks of rock that are about the size of large houses, because plates cannot bend.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1223 | 2287 | 54% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 352 | 707 | 50% |
| 9–12 | 865 | 1568 | 55% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 630 | 1112 | 57% |
| Female | 573 | 1132 | 51% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 1102 | 2046 | 54% |
| Other | 88 | 177 | 50% |
- NRC Framework
- ESS2.B Most continental and ocean floor features are the result of geological activity and earthquakes along plate boundaries. The exact patterns depend on whether the plates are being pushed together to create mountains or deep ocean trenches, being pulled apart to form new ocean floor at mid-ocean ridges, or sliding past each other along surface faults.
- ESS2.B ...the solid mantle's rocks can bend.