Today’s Agenda…  Bellringer: Draw a diagram of the Earth. Label the 4 layers.  Review  Notes on Earth’s Moving Plates  Exit Slip

Earth’s Moving Plates Study Pack #3

Today’s goals…  I can explain how Earth’s plates move.  I can explain why Earth’s plates move.

Earth’s Plates  Earth’s lithosphere is the upper part of the mantle and the crust  The lithosphere is broken up into pieces called tectonic plates  They float on the mantle  Different sizes and shapes

Earth’s Plates

 The plates move very slowly  About 2cm/year  This has caused the position of the continents to change over the years  The movement of these plates can also cause changes in Earth’s surface

Plate Boundaries  The places where the edges of plates meet  Plates experience stress at boundaries  Convergent  Divergent  Transform

Plate Boundaries  Convergent  Plates move toward each other  Plates experience a type of stress called compression(pushing)  The plates crumple up and form mountains  Sometimes one plates goes under the other - subduction

Plate Boundaries  Divergent  Plates move away from each other  Plates experience a type of stressed called tension(pulling)  New crust is formed causing a ridge

Plate Boundaries  Transform Boundary  Plate move past each other  A type of stress called shearing occurs  This causes faults or cracks in the crust  Earthquakes can occur here

Why do the plates move?  Convection currents in the mantle behave like a conveyor belt to move the plates

Exit Slip  Identify the plate boundary  Convergent  Divergent  Transform