Transcript The Theory of Plate Tectonics

Put your DRW on the books
Tectonic Plate Motion
10/5/15
7-3a pg. 177
IN: What do you think is
causing sea-floor
spreading and tectonic
plates to move?
 The
process by which new oceanic
lithosphere is created as older
materials are pulled away.

The theory that the Earth’s lithosphere
is divided into tectonic plates that
move around on top of the
athenosphere.
Convection
 Hot
material deep within the Earth
rises while cooler material near
the surface sinks.
◦ This is what causes tectonic plates to
move around.
Ridge Push
 The
process by which an oceanic
plate slides down the lithosphereasthenosphere boundary.
Slab Pull
 The
process by which the edge of
the oceanic plate sinks and pulls
the rest of the tectonic plate with it.
Flash Presentation
These plates are moving around.

Which means that they:
◦ Colliderun into one another
◦ Divide move away from one another
◦ Slide slide past one another
Glue in the diagram then,
OUT: When convection takes
place in the mantle, why
does cooler material sink,
while warmer material rises?