Transcript PlateInteractions1

Plate Interactions
Tectonic Plate
Theory
Definition of Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics is the
theory that Earth’s
lithosphere is broken into
about 20 plates that move
on top of the
asthenosphere.
Map of the Plates
Questions 1-3
Use the map to answer the following questions.
Put your answers on the back of the map.
1. What is the name of the plate that we live on?
2. About where on the plate is New York City (on
the edge, near the edge, in the middle)?
3. What cities in the United States are on the edge
of a plate?
The Plates Are Moving!
Evidence to Support Plate Tectonics
1. Puzzle-like fit of continents
Shape of Continents
The Plates Are Moving!
Evidence to Support Plate Tectonics
1. Puzzle-like fit of continents
2. Fossils of same species of plants and animals on
various continents
Fossil Evidence
The Plates Are Moving!
Evidence to Support Plate Tectonics
1. Puzzle-like fit of continents
2. Fossils of same species of plants and animals on
various continents
3. Glacial grooves that match across continents
Glacial Grooves
The Plates Are Moving!
Evidence to Support Plate Tectonics
1. Puzzle-like fit of continents
2. Fossils of same species of plants and animals on
various continents
3. Glacial grooves that match across continents
4. Coal in cold climates
Coal in Antarctica
The Plates Are Moving!
Evidence to Support Plate Tectonics
1. Puzzle-like fit of continents
2. Fossils of same species of plants and animals on
various continents
3. Glacial grooves that match across continents
4. Coal in cold climates
5. Earthquake boundaries that match the tectonic
plate boundaries
Earthquakes
Looking at the boundaries of
earthquakes around the world…
http://www.iris.edu/seismon/
There is a lot in common to those
plate boundaries!!!
Questions 4-7
Use the map to answer the following questions. Put your
answers on the back of the map.
4. Between the west coast of the North American
plate and the northeastern part of the Pacific
plate, the plates are moving in what way?
5. What do we have a lot of in this part of the
world?
6. Between the African Plate and the North
American plate, the arrows show the plates
moving in what way?
7. What do you think might be occurring there?
More Evidence:
Seafloor Spreading
Visualization of SeaFloor
Spreading
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/t
erc/content/visualizations/es0803/es0803page01
.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
Questions 8 -10
Use the map to answer the following questions.
Put your answers on the back of the map.
 8. What type of movement is happening
between the plates of the Atlantic’s sea floor?
 9. Which two plates are pulling apart to create
the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
 10. What are 2 Earth features that are pieces of
evidence that the plates are pulling apart at the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
Types of Plate Boundaries
• Convergent (Coming Together)
• Divergent (Dividing Apart)
• Transform (Slipping Past)
Converge!
Diverge!
Transform!
Questions 11-12
Use the map to answer the following questions. Put
your answers on the back of the map.
11. What are the three types of plate boundaries?
12. Which boundary is the most un-common?
Convergent Boundaries
• Definition: Two plates
move into one another
• Two Types of Convergent
Boundaries
1. Continent to Continent
2. Subduction Zone
Subduction Zone
Subduction Zone
Formation of Andes
Mountains
 Nazca plate is moving under South American
plate - this is called subduction
 Nazca plate is ocean crust and therefore more
dense, it sinks below the continental crust
Continent-to-Continent Collisions
Continent-to-Continent
Collision….
Formation of Himalayas
 Indo-Australian plate moved into Eurasian plate
 Eurasian plate began to crumble up
 Over millions of years, Himalayas were built and
continue to grow today
Divergent Boundaries
• Definition - when
two plates move
apart
• Example: MidAtlantic Ridge
• Ocean floor is
growing as the
plates move apart
Transform Boundary
Hot Spots - Volcanoes in the
middle of plates