PLATE

TECTONICS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H6vmLgJHOk
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d7y4u99tu5wydk8/mantle_convecti
on_cells_and_continental_drift.wmv.wmv?dl=0

 TEKS 8.9B relate plate

tectonics to the formation of
crustal features;
TEKS 6.10C identify the major
tectonic plates
TEKS 6.10D describe how plate
tectonics causes major geological
events such as ocean basins,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
and mountain building

Ted Ed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p
-vNSqUy0l4

What is Plate Tectonics?

Plate tectonics
describes the
means by which
the ocean and
continental crust
are able to move
and the results of
that motion.

The crust of Earth is divided into

plates.

Key plates:
Eurasian
African

Indo-Australian

Pacific
Nazca
North American
South American

The plates are rigid and in

constant motion relative
to one another.

What Causes the

Tectonic Plates to
Move?

Intense heat from the

core of the Earth causes
convection cells to form in
the asthenosphere.

The Earths continental and

oceanic plates sit on the hot
asthenosphere. While the
rock in the asthenosphere is
solid, it is less rigid than the
plates, and therefore
moves.

While scientists
do not fully
understand the
forces that
move the
plates, it is
believed that
the moving
material in the
asthenosphere
drags the plates
along.

What Are
the
Results of
Tectonic
Plate
Motion?

Each plate
moves as a
distinct unit.
The borders
between
plates are
called plate
boundaries.

There are three different kinds

of motion that occurs
between the tectonic plates.
Transform
Plate
Boundary

Divergent
Plate Boundary

Even though the motion of the

plates is very slow; about 1040 mm/year (this is about
how fast your fingernails
grow), the motion causes
major geologic events and
surface features.
I can out run
the tectonic
plates!

TRANSFORM
Motion:
plates
grind
past
one
another

Surface
Feature:
faults
Geologic
Event:
earthquakes

San Andreas Fault

Click here!

Surface
DIVERGENT Feature:
Motion:
Rifts
plates
Rift
move
Geologic
valleys
away
Event:
from one
Volcanic
another new crust
islands
is formed
midshallow
ocean
earthquakes
ridge

rift valley

Click here!

Mid-Atlantic
Ridge

CONVERGENT
Motion:
plates
move
toward
from one
another

Geologic
Event:
crust
material is
destroyed
earthquakes
volcanic
eruptions
mountain
building

CONVERGENT
Surface
Features:
volcanoes
Island arcs
Volcanic arcs
Trenches
Mountain
ranges

Tsunami
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
TRDpTEjumdo

Mount Saint Helens

Click here!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=IhU6jml6NY4&spfreload=1

Volcanoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=DceHEBGVfj4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Cvjwt9nnwXY

The Himalayan Mountains

Click here!

Ring of Fire
http://education.nationalgeographic.c
om/education/encyclopedia/ringfire/?ar_a=1

Earthquakes
http://education.nationalgeograp
hic.com/education/media/earthqu
akes-101/?ar_a=1