Plate Tectonics
Layers of the Earth
Layers of the Earth
Lithosphere – 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 occurs
 Trenches form
 Volcanoes form
 Strong 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
Plates push
into each other
Mountains
volcanoes
Divergent
Plates move
away from
each other
Mid-ocean
ridge
Rift valley
Volcanoes
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
other
Mountains
volcanoes
Mid-ocean
ridge
Rift valley
Volcanoes
Earthquakes
Faults
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 supercontinent?
Do Now 11/7/13
1. 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 8/28/14
1. 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 10/29/13
1. 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 10/31/13
1. 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 8/29/14
1. 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 11/5/13
1. 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 __________.