Plate Tectonics

Tectonic Plates Large, solid pieces of Earth’s surface The crust + upper part of mantle Plates can contain oceanic or continental crust, or they can have both About 7 major plates on Earth

The Pacific Plate is the only all ocean plate!! The 7 Major Plates North American Plate South American Plate African Plate Eurasian Plate Australian-Indian Plate Pacific Plate Antarctic Plate The Pacific Plate is the only all ocean plate!!

Theory of Plate Tectonics Earth’s crust is broken into plates that float on the upper part of the mantle. Combines continental drift and seafloor spreading Explains how and why the continents move

Convection Who remembers what convection is from 6th grade or from the Hot Spot in the Pot probe? Discuss it in your groups Share out Draw Pot (CCR)

The Force Behind Plate Movement Convection current: movement of a liquid/gas caused by changes in temperature Warm liquid rises, cool liquid sinks (think of boiling water in a pan) This occurs in the mantle and causes the plates to move

Plate Boundaries Plate boundary – place where two plates meet (edges) Plates move along these boundaries There are three types Divergent Convergent Transform

Divergent Boundaries Plates move apart, away from each other Form rift valleys New crust is formed Mid-ocean ridges occur

Convergent Boundaries Tectonic plates moving toward each other (colliding, coming together) Form Mountains

Transform Boundaries Plates slide past each other Rough movement Causes earthquakes

Effects of Plate Tectonics Earthquakes – sudden strong movements in earth’s crust Mountains – landform that reaches high elevation Volcanoes – vent in the earth through which lava erupts Islands – volcanic island that form on top of hot spots (place where magma reaches the surface)

Which is Which? Where are mountains? Mid-Ocean Ridges? Earthquakes?