Theory of Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics
Plate Boundaries
Causes of Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics
 What is Plate Tectonics
• The Earth’s crust and upper
mantle are broken into
sections called plates
• Plates move around on top of
the mantle like rafts
What is the Lithosphere?
• The crust and part of the upper
mantle = lithosphere
–100 km thick
–Less dense than the material
below it so it “floats”
 What is the
Asthenosphere?
• The plastic layer below the
lithosphere = asthenosphere
• The plates of the lithosphere
float on the asthenosphere
 2 Types of Plates

• Ocean plates - plates below

the oceans
• Continental plates - plates
below the continents
 Questions...
• What is the theory of plate
tectonics?
• What is the lithosphere?
• What is the asthenosphere?
• What is the connection between
the two?
• What are the two types of plates?
Plate Boundaries
 Convergent Boundaries
• Boundaries between two
plates that are colliding
 
• There are 3 types…
 Type 1
• Ocean plate colliding with a
less dense continental plate
• Subduction Zone: where the
less dense plate slides under
the more dense plate
• VOLCANOES occur at
subduction zones
PLATE
A

PLATE
B
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1.What type of plate is
Plate A? What about Plate
B? Why do you say so?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
2.Describe what happens
to Plate A as it collides
with Plate B? Why?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
3. What do you think may
happen to the leading
edge of plate A as it
continues to move
downward? Why?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
4. What do you call this
molten material?
5. What is formed on top
of Plate B?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
6. As the plates continue
to grind against each
other, what other geologic
event could take place?
 CONTINENTAL
&
OCEANIC PLATES
 Type 2
• Ocean plate colliding with
another ocean plate
• The less dense plate slides
over the more dense plate
creating a subduction zone
called a TRENCH
ACTIVITY 2.B CONVERGENCE OF
TWO OCEANIC PLATES
Aleutian Islands, Alaska
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 2.B

1. What are the geologic

processes/events that will
occur out of this plate
movement?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 2.B

2. What geologic features

might form at the surface
of Plate A?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 2.B
3.If the edges of Plate A
suddenly flicks upward, a
large amount of water
may be displaced. What
could be formed at the
surface of the sea?
Video
 Type 3
• A continental plate colliding
with another continental plate
• Have Collision Zones:
–a place where folded and thrust
faulted mountains form.
ACTIVITY 2.C : CONTINENTANL
PLATES CONVERGING
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 2.C

1. What happened to the

strips of clay as they were
pushed from opposite
ends?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 2.C

2. If the strips of clay

represent the Earth’s
Lithosphere, what do you
think is formed in the
lithosphere?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 2.C

3. What other geologic

event could take place
with this type of plate
movement aside from
your answer in Q2?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 2.C
4.In terms of consequences
on the Earths
Lithosphere, how will you
differentiate this type of
convergent plate
boundary with the other
two?
Andes Mountains,
South America
FORMATION OF HIMALAY
FORMATION OF FOLD MO
 Divergent Boundaries
• Boundary between two plates
that are moving apart or rifting

• RIFTING causes SEAFLOOR
SPREADING
 Features of Divergent
Boundaries
• Mid-ocean ridges
• rift valleys
• fissure volcanoes
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 3

1. What are common on

the pictures?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 3

2. What do you think is

happening to the Earth’s
crust in those pictures?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 3

3. If the event continues

for million of years, what
do you think will be the
effect on the crust?
GUIDE QUESTIONS:ACTIVITY 3

4. Complete the part of

the video below to
illustrate your answer in
Q3.

VIDEO
Transform Fault Boundaries
• Boundary between two plates
that are sliding past each other
• EARTHQUAKES along faults
San Andreas Fault, CA
 Questions...
• What are the three types of
boundaries?
• What direction do plates go for
each?
• Which boundary has a subduction
zone…what occurs at a
subduction zone?
Causes of Plate
Tectonics
 Convection Currents
• Hot magma in the Earth
moves toward the surface,
cools, then sinks again.
• Creates convection currents
beneath the plates that cause
the plates to move.
EARTH’S INTERIOR & P
 Questions...
• What causes plates to move?
• How is a convection current
formed?