Plate TectonicsShake, Rattle, & Roll!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zocutif0cQY

Plate Tectonicsa scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of the Earth's plates which make up the lithosphere. These plates rest on the asthenosphere.

Layers of the Earth

Plate Movement

It is believed that tectonic plates are moved by several different forces:

◦ Rotation of the earth◦ Tidal forces of sun & moon◦ Gravitational pull◦ Convection cell◦ Plates move at a rate about 2

to 5 centimeters per year. (About the same speed that your finger nail grow) WOW!

Developed the theory of Pangea & Continental Drift.

Alfred Wegener (VAY guh nuhr)

Pangea

Continental Drift

Direction of plate drift

Types of Plate Motion Convergent Divergent Transform

Convergent Boundaries-Where two tectonic plates come together

There are 3 types of convergent boundaries, all 3 cause VERY strong earthquakes. Oceanic>Continental

◦ Volcanoes◦ Oceanic trenches

Oceanic>Oceanic◦ Tsunamis ◦ Volcanoes◦ Island arcs

Continental>Continental◦ Mountain building

Oceanic Continental

Tectonic Plate Motion

Andes Mountains-The main cause of the rise of the Andes is the compression of western rim of the South American Plate due to the subduction of the Nazca Plate and the Antarctic Plate.

Oceanic Oceanic

Tectonic Plate Motion

Philippine Islands-Oceanic to oceanic convergence-located near the edge of the Pacific Ring of Fire

Continental Continental

Tectonic Plate Motion

Himalayan Mountains- Formed by the collision of the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate.

There are 2 types of divergent boundaries that earthquakes. Sea Floor Spreading

◦ Oceanic Ridges Continental Rift

◦ Rift Vallies

Divergent Boundaries-where two tectonic plates pull apart

Sea Floor Spreading

Tectonic Plate Motion

Age of the Ocean Floor-Red is the newest – Blue is the oldest

Continental Rift

Tectonic Plate Motion

three plates are pulling away from one another: the Arabian Plate, and the two parts of the African Plate(the Nubian and

the Somalian)

Rifting earth of Ethiopia

A transform boundary is just that, a transform boundary. Transform boundaries can have jagged edges that

get caught on each other, when this happens massive pressure builds up which releases in a Powerful Earthquake.

Small mountains form right on the fault line.

Transform Boundaries-where two tectonic plates grind past each other.

Transform Boundary

Tectonic Plate Motion

Transform Boundary

Border of the Pacific & North American plate, 810 miles long.

Arial photo of the San Andreas Fault

On a separate sheet of paper, identify the three types of plate boundaries. Use arrows to identify the direction of movement.

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