EARTH SCIENCE LAB
Plate Tectonics - Plate Motions

A number of mini-plate diagrams are shown below. The boundaries between plates are indicated with three symbols. The lines with gray shading indicate divergent plate boundaries, the "triangle" symbol represents convergent plate boundaries and the single line with or without the "T" indicate transform plate boundaries. Plate A is stationary. Your job is to determine which way Plates B, C and D are moving. Remember that the entire plate must move in the same direction. Some of the examples may be impossible. Select the plate motion from the list of possible motions. Then select "Grade" to see if the motion is correct.

Plate Motion #1:
Image of Plate Motion #1		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterclockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #2:
Image of Plate Motion #2		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #3:
Image of Plate Motion #3		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #4:
Image of Plate Motion #4		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #5:
Image of Plate Motion #5		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #6:
Image of Plate Motion #6		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #7
Plate B:
Image of Plate Motion #7b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #7:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #7c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #8:
Image of Plate Motion #8		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #9:
Image of Plate Motion #9		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #10:
Image of Plate Motion #10		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #11:
Image of Plate Motion #11		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #12
Plate B:
Image of Plate Motion #12b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #12:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #12c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #13:
Image of Plate Motion #13		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #14:
Image of Plate Motion #14		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #15:
Image of Plate Motion #15		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #16:
Image of Plate Motion #16		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #17:
Image of Plate Motion #17		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #18:
Plate B
Image of Plate Motion #18b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #18:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #18c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #18:
Plate D
Image of Plate Motion #18d		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #19:
Plate B
Image of Plate Motion #19b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #19:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #19c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #19:
Plate D
Image of Plate Motion #19d		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #20:
Plate B
Image of Plate Motion #20b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #20:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #20c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #20:
Plate D
Image of Plate Motion #20d		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #21:
Plate B
Image of Plate Motion #21b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #21:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #21c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #21:
Plate D
Image of Plate Motion #21d		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #22:
Plate B
Image of Plate Motion #22b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #22:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #22c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #23:
Plate B
Image of Plate Motion #23b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #23:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #23c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #23:
Plate D
Image of Plate Motion #23d		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #24:
Plate B
Image of Plate Motion #24b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #24:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #24c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #24:
Plate D
Image of Plate Motion #24d		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #24:
Plate E
Image of Plate Motion #24e		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #24:
Plate F
Image of Plate Motion #24f		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #25:
Plate B
Image of Plate Motion #25b		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #25:
Plate C
Image of Plate Motion #25c		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion  

Plate Motion #25:
Plate D
Image of Plate Motion #25d		 North motion South motion East motion West motion
Northwest motion Northeast motion Southeast motion Southwest motion
Clockwise rotation motion Counterlockwise rotation motion Impossible motion