Does the Earth grow up? Maybe!

• Main Authors: de Almeida Maria Castelhano, Paula Cristina, Guerra Madaleno, Inês do Carmo, Fialho Azinhaga, Patrícia A. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de Cádiz 2013-01-01
• Series: Revista Eureka sobre Enseñanza y Divulgación de las Ciencias
• Subjects: Rifts; Zonas de subducción; Magma; placas tectónicas; geomagnetismo; minerales de hierro y magnesio; Subduction areas; tectonic plates; geomagnetism; iron and magnesium minerals
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10498/15001

The Earth Sciences syllabus stipulates the use of analogue physical models to promote the learning of geological phenomena because the characteristics of geological knowledge, problems usually arise such as scale, representative of materials and speed of processes. The model on the mobility of tectonic plates, such as rifts and subduction zones, was built with material that allows easy acquisition not only its manipulation by the students but also the understanding of the relationship between the physical and geological concepts. Its use must be accompanied by discussion of the assumptions underlying the model, to allow understanding of their limitations.