Plate Tectonics

Layers of the Earth

Layers of the EarthLithosphere – the crust

and uppermost part of the mantle

The lithosphere is broken into plates that can move around on the asthenosphere (part of the upper mantle), which is like play dough and can be pushed.

Theory of Tectonic Plates

• Theory that the lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move constantly on top of the asthenosphere.

• Tectonic plates move because of differences in heat and the pull of gravity. (Convection Currents)

Types of Plate Movement

• Ridge Push - As the new crust is created, it pushes the rest of the plate out of its way

• Slab Pull - Cold, thicker parts of a plate get pulled down into the mantle

Types of Plate Boundaries

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Transform

Convergent Plate Boundaries• Plates move

towards each other• Crust is destroyed• Continental/

continental

High mountains

• Continental/oceanic

Subduction occursTrenches formVolcanoes formStrong earthquakes

Buckling

• The pushing upward of the Earth’s crust due to pressure.

Folding

• Folding occurs when layers bend due to stress in the Earth’s crust.

Tectonic Plate Boundaries

What are they?

where two plates meet

What makes the continents move?

Convection Currents

3 Types of Boundaries

Convergent

Plates push into each other

Mountains volcanoes

Divergent Plate Boundaries

•plates move away from each other

• mid-ocean ridges created through a crack in underwater crust

• new crust is formed

Iceland

Seafloor Spreading• New oceanic lithosphere is created

as magma rises to the surface and hardens while plates move apart

(Ridge Push)

Tectonic Plate Boundaries

What are they?where two plates meet

What makes the continents move?

Convection Currents

3 Types of Boundaries

Convergent Divergent

Plates push into each

other

Plates move away from each

otherMountains volcanoes

Mid-ocean ridge

Rift valleyVolcanoes

Transform Plate Boundaries

• Plates slide past each other

• Crust neither created nor destroyed

• Earthquakes/Faults• Example:

– San Andreas fault in California

Tectonic Plate Boundaries

What are they?where two plates meet

What makes the continents move?

Convection Currents

3 Types of Boundaries

Convergent Divergent Transform

Plates push into each

other

Plates move away from each other

Plates slide past each

otherMountains volcanoes

Mid-ocean ridge

Rift valleyVolcanoes

EarthquakesFaults

Tectonic Plate Boundaries

What are they?

What makes the continents move?

3 Types of Boundaries

Do Now 8/26/14

1. What happens to the temperature of the Earth’s layers the deeper you go into the Earth?

2. Why does heat cause things to rise?

3/4. What three pieces of evidence do we have for the Continental Drift Theory?

Do Now 10/30/13

1. List two examples of mass wasting.

2. What 5 factors affect the formation of soil?

3. What was the theory proposed by Alfred Wegener?

4. What was the most recent super-continent?

Do Now 11/7/131. Describe plate movement at a divergent

boundary.

2. Describe plate movement at a transform boundary.

3. Describe plate movement at a subduction zone.

4. Why does subduction occur?

Do Now 8/28/141. The theory that all the continents were

once connected is called ____________.

2. Tectonic plates are large pieces of ____________ broken into pieces.

3. What process drives the movement of the tectonic plates?

4. How far do the plates move in one year?

Do Now 10/29/131. Name at least three properties we can

test to identify minerals.

2. Layer of the Earth that is composed of silicon, oxygen, iron and magnesium?

3. Ice wedging, root wedging, and abrasion are examples of what?

4. What is humus?

Do Now 10/31/131. Name the layers of the Earth from the

hottest to the coolest.

2. Rock formed from molten rock is called ______.

3. Which layer of soil is most responsible for the formation of soil?

4. Which layer of the Earth forms the tectonic plates?

Do Now 8/29/141. Name the layers of the Earth from the

hottest to the coolest.

2. What was the name of the most recent supercontinent?

3. What land features are found at a convergent boundary?

4. Why is the inner core the most dense layer of the Earth?

Do Now 11/5/131. The theory that processes on Earth happen

quickly is called _____________.

2. The property of a mineral that describes the color of its powder is called _______.

3. What is the most common agent of weathering?

4. The theory that the ________ is broken into pieces is called __________.