MOUNTAIN BELTS

for SCIENCE Grade 10

Quarter 1/ Week 3

1 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2

NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
 FOREWORD

This self-learning kit will serve as a guide in learning

more about our planet Earth.

This self-learning kit allows you to build upon what you

already know to improve your Science skills. You will
increase your knowledge and understanding on how Plate
Tectonics lead to changes in Earth’s surface features.

You are provided with enrichment activities to

enhance their appreciation of the given topic.

It is my hope that you will make use of this SLK by giving

time each day to read and study every given facts and
activity. If you find difficulty in some topics, feel free to ask
the help of your teacher or to people who can assist you.

It is also expected that you will do and answer each

activity honesty and diligently.

Good luck and God bless.

2 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:
K: Describe the role of plate tectonics in forming
mountains.
S: Locate and label Earth’s major mountain belts.
A: Show awareness on the impact of mountains on the
habitat, climate and economic resources.

LEARNING COMPETENCY:
Describe and relate the distribution and active volcanoes,
earthquake epicenter and major mountain belts to Plate
Tectonic Theory.

I. WHAT HAPPENED

Hi! Good day, fellow

grade 10 students. My
friend, Dora and I, are
going to have an You’re right
exploration of how Diego. Today
mountain belts are we are going to
related to Plate learn about
tectonics, right Dora? mountains and
mountain belts.
Would you care
to join us?
Come, join us!

“Enjoy These Student Images for Free.” n.d. Freepik. Accessed June 26, 2022.

3 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
PRE-ACTIVITIES/PRE-TEST:

Directions: Please read each question and select your answer from the
choices provided. Write your answer on your science notebook.

1. The theory of Plate Tectonics explains:

A. Why Earth’s magnetic field changes over time
B. How Earth and other objects in the Solar System formed
C. Why the planet’s gravitational pull varies slightly from place to place on
Earth
D. The origin of mountains and ocean basins and the shapes of the
continents on Earth

2. Tectonics plates float on the _________.

A. Outer core C. Inner core
B. Asthenosphere or mantle D. Lithosphere

3. A boundary where plates move away from each other is called:

A. Divergent C. Transform
B. Convergent D. Shear boundary

4. The tallest mountains on Earth are formed by

A. Oceanic to continental convergence
B. Continental to continental convergence
C. Ocean to ocean convergence
D. Hot spots

5. What kind of plate boundary causes old and heavy crust (rocks) to sink into
the mantle (subduction)?
A. Convergent boundary C. Transform or shear boundary
B. Divergent boundary D. Plate Boundary

6. What kind of plate boundary results to the formation of a mountain range

like the Himalayas and Appalachian Mountains?
A. Divergent boundary C. Convergent boundary
B. Transform or shear boundary D. Plate Boundary

7. What is the name of the mountain chain that runs along the western margin
of North America?
A. The Appalachians C. The North American Cordillera
B. The Andes D. The Himalayas

4 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
8. What is the name of the mountain chain that runs along the eastern margin
of North America?
A. The Appalachians C. The North American Cordillera
B. The Andes D. The Himalayas

9. What major tectonic plate does not contain a continent?

A. North American C. Pacific
B. Indian- Australian D. Antarctic

10. Plates move towards each other along

A. Divergent plate boundaries C. Transform fault boundaries
B. Convergent plate boundaries D. All of these

II. Identify the plate tectonic boundaries that formed the following mountains
using the given options below.
A. North American Plate
B. Nazca Plate
C. Juan de Fuca Plate
D. Eurasian Plate
E. Pacific Plate

11. Appalachian Mountains

12. Southern Alps
13. The Ural Mountains
14. The Andes mountains
15. Rockies mountain

5 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW
Now it’s time for us
Yes, Diego, we
to start our
are ready and so
exploration. Are
excited to know
you ready?
how mountain
belts distribution
related to Plate
Tectonics Theory.

So, everybody, fasten your seat belts

because we are going to travel around the
world and see for ourselves the different
mountain belts and plate tectonic
boundaries.
DISCUSSION:

Can you still remember the structure of the Earth?

ACTIVITY I
Directions: Label the diagram below and give the composition and the state
of matter of each layer. Write your answers in your science notebook.

“Free Vector | Layers of the Earth on White Background.”

n.d. Freepik. Accessed June 26, 2022.

6 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
 The Earth is made up from four distinct layers: the inner core, the outer
core, the mantle, and the crust. Each layer has a different thickness and is
composed of different materials which have different characteristics.

Inner core
The inner core is the center. It is primarily a solid ball of iron.
Outer core
The outer core is composed of iron and nickel. Unlike the inner core, the
outer core is liquid. The total thickness of the entire core is about 6,700 km.
Mantle
This is the thickest part of the Earth. The mantle is viscous and composed
of semi-molten rock of magma. It is about 2,900 km thick.
Crust
This is the outer layer of the Earth’s surface and it is the thinnest layer. The
crust is composed of solid rock and rests on the top layer of the mantle. It is up
to 60 km thick and is divided into two parts - continental crust and oceanic
crust. (Nace, 2016)
Oceanic crust ranges from 5 km to 10 km in thickness, whereas
continental crust is 32 km to 70 km.

Earth’s crust and uppermost mantle are very similar in both composition
and physical properties. Together, they make up the lithosphere, a solid,
relatively rigid layer of rock. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the
lithosphere is broken into sections called plates.

Now, we are already refreshed and have recalled the

structure of the earth. This will be our springboard for our topic
today which is about the Plate Tectonics Theory and how it is
related to the formation of mountains and mountain belts.

What is the Plate Tectonics Theory?

Plate tectonics theory explains why:

 Earth’s geography has changed through time and continues to change
today.
 Some places are prone to earthquake while others are not.
 Certain regions may have deadly, mild, or no volcanic eruptions.
 Mountain ranges are located where they are.

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 Today, we are going to focus on how Plate Tectonics theory is related to
the mountain ranges.
We have learned a while ago that the Earth’s crust and the uppermost
mantle make up the lithosphere and it is broken into sections called plates.
These plates float and move around on a denser layer called the
asthenosphere. Rocks of the asthenosphere are partially melted and able to
flow.

Increasing Lithospheric plates

temperatur
e pressure

Figure 2: Asthenosphere
Makati Science High
School. 2015. “Let’s Mark
the Boundaries.” June 5,
2015.

Convection Convection
asthenosphere current current

Heat rises and falls through the molten rocks that compose the mantle.
As the magma moves so do the plates above. The Earth’s plates are constantly
moving pushing into one another (Convergent plate boundary), sliding past
one another (Transform plate boundary) and pulling apart from one another
(Divergent plate boundary). On average this movement is between 1 and 10
cm per year.

Figure 2: Plate Boundaries

Makati Science High School. 2015. “Let’s Mark the Boundaries.” June 5,
2015.
8 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
 There are 14 major plates floating on the mantle. These are:
•Eurasian •Nazca •Cocos
•Pacific • North American •Philippine
•Australian •South American •Arabia
•Antarctic •African •Indian
•Caribbean •Juan de Fuca

Now, which plates include more than one continent? Which plates are
oceanic?

Activity 2
Direction: Answer the following questions briefly. Copy and answer the
questions in your notebook.

1. What are the 2 types of crust found on Earth’s surface?

2. How many major tectonic plates on Earth’s surface?
3. What causes the movement of the plates?
4. The layer of the Earth that is made up of the crust & upper mantle is called
the ____________.
5. What is caused by the action of hot material rising and cool material sinking?

Now, you know that we live on gigantic moving rocks called tectonic plates.
What happens when these major tectonic plates and many minor ones are all
moving around?
Yes! They are bound to start bumping into each other. Natural phenomena
such as earthquakes, mountain formation, and volcanoes occur at plate
boundaries. Mountains are usually formed at what are called convergent
plate boundaries, meaning a boundary at which two plates are moving
towards one another. This type of boundary eventually results to collision that
last for millions of years. Towering mountain ranges are thrust up along the
plate boundaries as the long-lasting pressures cause layers of rock to crumple
and fold.

So, what happens when the convergent plates finally collide?

It depends on the composition of the tectonic plates involved in the collision.

Tectonic plates are either made up of oceanic crust or continental crust.
Oceanic crust is mainly made of basaltic rocks and continental crust is mainly
made of felsic rocks. Basaltic rocks are denser than felsic rocks, therefore,
oceanic crust is denser than continental crust. So, if an oceanic tectonic plate
collides with a continental plate, the denser oceanic plates is likely to sink
beneath the continental plate, creating a subduction zone. However, if two
continental plates (of similar density) collide, they instead lift against one
another.
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Various types of plate convergence:

When two continental plates converge,

they smash together and create
mountains. The amazing Himalaya
Mountains are the result of this type of
convergent plate boundary. The
Appalachian Mountains resulted from
ancient convergence when Pangaea
came together.
Fig. 3
Dana Desonie, Ph.D. (2019) Continent-Continent
“How Mountains Are Formed - Lesson.” n.d. Convergence Plate Boundaries
TeachEngineering.org.

A subduction zone is also

generated when two oceanic
plates collide — the older plate is
forced under the younger one —
and it leads to the formation of
chains of volcanic islands known
Fig. 4
as island arcs.
“How Mountains Are Formed - Lesson.” n.d. www.learner.org Slip,Slide, & Collide
TeachEngineering.org. Ashlin Quinn (2020) Thirteen/WNET New York
Arrenberg Media

When oceanic crust converges

with continental crust, the
denser oceanic plate plunges
beneath the continental plate.
This process, called subduction,
occurs at the oceanic trenches.
The entire region is known as a
subduction zone. Subduction
zones have a lot of intense
Fig. 5
earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions. The Cascade Mountain
“How Mountains Are Formed - Lesson.” n.d.
TeachEngineering.org. Range is a line of volcanoes
above the melting oceanic.
plate.
Dana Desonie, Ph.D. (2012) Ocean-Continent
Convergent Plate Boundaries

10 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
 So, how mountain belts formed?

Most mountains and mountain ranges are parts of mountain belts that
have formed where two lithospheric plates have converged and where, in
most cases, they continue to converge. In effect, many mountain belts mark
the boundaries of lithospheric plates, and these boundaries in turn intersect
other boundaries. As a result, there exist very long mountain systems where a
series of convergent plate boundaries continue from one to the next.
(www.britannica.com)

Example:
 continuous chain of mountains can be traced from Morocco in North
Africa through Europe, then across Turkey and Iran through
the Himalayas to Southeast Asia

 the Alpine-Himalayan (or Tethyan) System, has formed where the African,
Arabian, and Indian plates have collided with the Eurasian Plate

“Evidence of Plate Motions - Geology (U.S. National Park Service).” n.d. Www.nps.gov.
Fig. 6: Plate tectonic evidence

11 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
 Fig. 7: mountain belts along tectonic plate boundaries

Geology Lecture 12.” 2013. April 8, 2013.

Most of the world’s major mountain belts are located along tectonic
plate boundaries. Can you name some mountain belts? What plate causes its
formation?

Some of the world major mountain belts.

Figure 8. Himalayas. Formed when African, Arabian, and

Indian Plates collided with the Eurasian Plate.

“Himalayan Mountain: Range, Location and Interesting Facts

| Earth Eclipse.” 2019. March 30, 2019.

12 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
 Himalayas, Nepali Himalaya, great mountain system of Asia forming a
barrier between the Plateau of Tibet to the north and the alluvial plains of the
Indian subcontinent to the south. The Himalayas include the highest mountains
in the world, with more than 110 peaks rising to elevations of 24,000 feet (7,300
meters) or more above sea level. One of those peaks is Mount Everest, the
world’s highest, with an elevation of 29,035 feet. This chain was formed as the
Indian subcontinent, a passenger on the same plate that currently underthrusts
the Sunda arc, collided with the southern margin of Asia and subsequently
penetrated some 2,000 kilometers into the rest of Asia.
(Shieba P. Chatterjee, Himalayas, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas)

Figure 9: Andes
Kim Ann Zimmermann. 2013. “Andes: World’s Longest Mountain
Range.” Live Science. Live Science. March 14, 2013.

The Andes is the longest mountain range in the world and boasts some of the
highest peaks. Located along the entire western coast of South America, the
Andes mountain range is about 4,500 miles (7,242 kilometers) long. The
mountain range spans seven countries — Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador,
Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina — and can be found between 10 degrees
north and 57 degrees south latitudes and 70 degrees to 80 degrees west
longitude. It is up to 500 miles (804 km) wide. Crustal shortening and crustal
thickening occur all along the eastern margin of the Andes by the westward
under thrusting of the stable areas of Brazil and Argentina beneath the Andes
at a rate of a few millimeters per year.

13 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
 Figure 10
McFadyen, Alex. 2019. “Why
the Rockies Should Go Straight
on Your Travel Bucket List.”
Good Housekeeping. October
15, 2019.

Rocky Mountains, byname the Rockies, mountain range forming the

cordilleran backbone of the great upland system that dominates the western
North American continent. Generally, the ranges included in the Rockies
stretch from northern Alberta and British Columbia southward to New Mexico,
a distance of some 3,000 miles (4,800 km). In places the system is 300 or more
miles wide.

Figure 11
Dykeman, Wilma. 2019. “Appalachian Mountains | Definition, Map,
History, & Facts.” In Encyclopædia Britannica.

Appalachian Mountains, also called Appalachians, great highland

system of North America, the eastern counterpart of the Rocky Mountains.
Extending for almost 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the Canadian province
of Newfoundland and Labrador to central Alabama in the United States,
The Appalachians in the eastern United States, for example, emerged as a
result of a collision between Africa and North America in Late Paleozoic time
before the present Atlantic Ocean formed.

14 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
ACTIVITY 3
A. Directions: Determine whether each of the statement below is true or false.
Write your answers in your science notebook.
1. All plates are presently moving in the same direction.

2. Plate tectonic processes are responsible for development of large

mountain belts.

3. Convergent plate tectonic boundaries are located where plates move

toward one another.
4. Continental mountain belts are areas of compression.

5. The main force causing plate tectonics is heat and the associated
convection in the lower lithosphere.

B. Answer the questions briefly.

6. Give at least 5 mountain belts.

Is it important for us to understand the formation of mountain belts?

Mountain belts on Earth are most commonly formed by collision of one

or more tectonic plates. The process of collision, uplift, and subsequent erosion
of long mountain belts often produces profound global effects, including
changes in regional and global climates, as well as the formation of important
economic resources, including oil and gas reservoirs and ore deposits.

15 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

EVALUATION/POST TEST:
A. Multiple choice:
Directions: Read each question and select your answer from the choices
provided. Write your answers in your science notebook.

1. Describe the most likely relationship between these mountains and nearby
tectonic plates.
A. The mountains are probably formed by earthquakes.
B. The mountains are probably located near the edge of 2 tectonic
plates.
C. The mountains are probably formed by the movement of glaciers.
D. The mountains are probably formed by running water.

2. A subduction zone is associated with which type of tectonic boundary:

A. Divergent C. Transform
B. Convergent D. None of the above

3. What major tectonic plate does not contain a continent?

A. North American C. Pacific
B. Indian- Australian D. Antarctic

4. What is the name of the mountain chain that runs along the western
margin of South America?
A. Appalachians B. Andes C. Himalayas D. Cordillera

“Multiple Choice.” n.d. Uh.edu. Accessed June 26, 2022.

5. If B represents the Himalayas then _________.
A. plate A is Asia and plate C is Europe
B. plate A is India and plate C is Asia
C. plate A is Asia and plate C is India
D. plate A is Europe and plate C is Asia

6. If the cross section depicts the southern Appalachian Mountains

approximately 250 million years ago, then ___________.
A. plate A is Africa and plate C is Europe
B. plate A is Africa and plate C is North America
C. plate A is North America and plate C is Europe
D. plate A is North America and plate C is Africa

16 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
7. Most of the Appalachian Mountains formed during ________ time.
A. Cenozoic B. Mesozoic C. Paleozoic D. Precambrian

8. What kind of plate boundary results to the formation of a mountain range

like the Himalayas and Appalachian Mountains?
A. Divergent boundary C. Convergent boundary
B. Transform or shear boundary

9. The theory of Plate Tectonics explains:

A. Why Earth’s magnetic field changes over time
B. How Earth and other objects in the Solar System formed
C. Why the planet’s gravitational pull varies slightly from place to place
on Earth
D. The origin of mountains and ocean basins and the shapes of the
continents on Earth.

B. Directions: Label the mountain ranges using THE words provided in the word
bank. Write your answers in your science notebook.
Word Bank

Andes Rockies Appalachian Alps Himalayan Atlas Urals

13
10

14

10
15
11

12
16

17 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
REFERENCES:

Forbes, Marissa Hagan, Malinda Schaefer Zarske, and Denise W. Carlson. 2008.
Teach Engineering. Accessed July 29, 2020.
https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/cub_rock_lesson04.

Nace, Trevor. 2016. Layers Of The Earth: What Lies Beneath Earth's Crust. January 16.
Accessed July 30, 2020.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2016/01/16/layers-of-the-earth-lies-
beneath-earths-crust/#60bea0e9441d.

King, Hobart. n.d. Convergent Plate Boundaries. Accessed July 30, 2020.
https://geology.com/nsta/convergent-plate-boundaries.shtml.

Dana Desonie, Ph.D. 2019. Continent-Continent Convergent Plate Boundaries.

November 21. Accessed July 2020, 2020. https://www.ck12.org/earth-
science/continent-continent-convergent-plate-boundaries/lesson/Continent-
Continent-Convergent-Plate-Boundaries-HS-ES/.

Quinn, Ashlinn. n.d. Slip, Slide, & Collide. Accessed July 30, 2020.
https://www.learner.org/wp-content/interactive/dynamicearth/slip.html.

Chatterjee, Shiba P. n.d. Himalayas. Accessed July 30, 2020.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas.

Zimmermann, Kim Ann. 2014. Andes: World's Longest Mountain Range. 13 March.
Accessed July 30, 2020. https://www.livescience.com/27897-andes-
mountains.html.

Molnar, Peter H. n.d. Major Mountain Belts Of The World. Accessed July 30, 2020.
https://www.britannica.com/science/mountain-landform/Major-mountain-
belts-of-the-world.

Marston, Richard A. n.d. Rocky Mountains. Accessed July 30, 2020.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Rocky-Mountains.

Dykeman, Wilma. n.d. Appalachian Mountains. Accessed July 30, 2020.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Appalachian-Mountains.

n.d. The Theory of Plate Tectonics. Accessed July 30, 2020.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-geology/chapter/outcome-
theory-of-plate-tectonics/.

Williams, Matt. 2015. Universe Today. 30 December. Accessed July 30, 2020.
https://www.universetoday.com/29833/how-mountains-are-formed/.

n.d. National Geographic. Accessed July 30, 2020.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/earth/surface-of-the-
earth/mountains/.

2019. The Second Sun, The Night Sun, The Missing Corenerstone. September 10.
Accessed July 30, 2020. http://www.secondsun.net/mountains.htm.
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 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent
JOELYZA M. ARCILLA EdD
OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
MARCELO K. PALISPIS EdD JD
OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
NILITA L. RAGAY, EdD
OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent/CID Chief
ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMDS)
ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS – Division Science Coordinator
MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)
ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)
LUCIANA P. BARREDO
Writer
DEXTER D. PAIRA
RAFAEL REX B. FELISILDA
Lay-out Artists
BETA QA TEAM
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA
DORIN FAYE D. CADAYDAY
MERCY G. DAGOY
RANJEL D. ESTIMAR
MARIA SALOME B. GOMEZ
JUSTIN PAUL ARSENIO C. KINAMOT
ARJIE T. PALUMPA
ALPHA QA TEAM
ANGELYN P. ABUEVA
JULIET B. GANTALAO
ARGELYN A. MAHUMOT
LESTER C. PABALINAS

19 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2
SYNOPSIS and ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This Self Learning Kit is designed to give ANSWER KEY
you more understanding on Plate Tectonic
Theory and Mountain belts on the Learning
Competency, describe and relate the
distribution and active volcanoes,
earthquake epicenter and major mountain
belts to Plate Tectonic Theory.
The students are expected to know
how tectonic plate movement related to the
formation of mountain belts and appreciate
mountain belts not only for scenic beauty
but also of its importance in our economic
resources, climate and habitation.
This SLK can be used alone and
supplement the learners need to be able to
do the given tasks. So, let’s learn together
and enjoy the beauty of how mountain belts
are formed.

The author, Mrs. Luciana P. Barredo, who graduated

Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the University of San
Carlos, Cebu City. She took her crash program in
secondary education major in biological science at
NORSU. She completed her academic requirements in
MAST at NORSU main campus, Dumaguete City. Currently,
she is assigned as District Science Coordinator at Sta.
Catalina District I.

The illustrator, Dexter D. Paira, is a graduate of Bachelor of

Secondary Education Major in Physical Science in the year
2013-2014 at Negros Oriental State University- Bayawan
Sta. Catalina Campus. He started working at Department
of Education in the year 2017. He had been handling
s various subjects in Senior High such as Physical Science, Life
Science, and Earth Science including General
Mathematics.

20 NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek3_v2