Plate Plate TectonicsTectonics

Parts of the EarthParts of the Earth

•The plates that move on The plates that move on the Earth’s surface are the Earth’s surface are made up of the crust made up of the crust and upper mantle and upper mantle (Lithosphere)(Lithosphere)

Plate BoundariesPlate Boundaries•The place where two plates The place where two plates

meet is called a meet is called a plate boundaryplate boundary. .

•There are three ways plates act There are three ways plates act at a boundary. They can:at a boundary. They can:–Pull apartPull apart–Bump into each otherBump into each other–Pass by each otherPass by each other

DivergenDivergentt

•A place where two plates A place where two plates pull apart is called a pull apart is called a Divergent Boundary.Divergent Boundary.–This separation causes a This separation causes a rift valley rift valley to be formed. to be formed.

–The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a product of a divergent product of a divergent boundary.boundary.

BoundaryBoundary

Convergent Convergent

•A place where two plates A place where two plates collide is called a collide is called a Convergent Boundary.Convergent Boundary.

•A A subduction zone subduction zone forms forms when one of the plates when one of the plates slides under the other. slides under the other. –Volcanoes are formed Volcanoes are formed above these zones.above these zones.

Boundary Boundary

TransforTransformm

•A place where two plates slide A place where two plates slide is called a Transform is called a Transform BoundaryBoundary–Earthquakes occur along transform Earthquakes occur along transform boundaries.boundaries.

–An example of a transform An example of a transform boundary is the boundary is the San Andreas Fault San Andreas Fault in California.in California.

How do the Plates How do the Plates Move?Move?•Convection CurrentsConvection Currents cause cause the Earths plates to movethe Earths plates to move

•The cyclic heating, rising, The cyclic heating, rising, cooling, and sinking of magma cooling, and sinking of magma in the Earth’s mantle causes in the Earth’s mantle causes these currents.these currents.

Convection Convection CurrentCurrent