Transcript Plate Tectonics - science main page

Plate Tectonics
January 2012
Earth’s Plates
• The crust is the solid layer (also called the
lithosphere)
• It is broken into pieces called tectonic plates.
– The tectonic plates are like the pieces of a jigsaw
puzzle.
• Plates intersect or meet at boundaries
– Three different types of boundaries
– Look at this picture, and draw each of the three
types of boundaries.
Seafloor spreading
• Watch this animation.
• The Mid-Ocean Ridge is an
example of a divergent
boundary.
– It can be seen from space.
– It is on the ocean floor
– Think: if the ocean floor
spreads apart here, what
must happen somewhere
else?
Mountain making
Convergent boundaries
• Plates move toward each
other
• When they collide, one
moves under the other
• Mountains are created
• Volcanoes occur
Example in Hawaii
Plate movement is powerful!
Mountain building
Effects of plate movement
Transform boundaries
No elevation, side to side only
California’s San Andreas Fault
One more example of San Andreas
power!
Now, it’s your turn!
• Read your text (pages 324 – 328, & 334 – 337.)
• Write your background paragraph telling how the
Earth’s surface changes.
• Gather materials
• “Build” your mantle and crust
• Simulate the boundaries and their movement
• Can you make mountains, mid ocean ridges, and
bend railroad tracks??
Homework
• Complete your reading of assigned text pages
tonight (324 – 328, & 334 – 337).
• Write 3-4 sentences about the ways the
Earth’s surface can change as a result of plate
movement at boundaries.
• Come prepared to test your knowledge in our
lab.