UNIT 1: MODULE 1

PLATE TECTONICS

Plate Tectonics- The theory of moving lithospheric plates

Crust- Made of variety of solid rocks like sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous

- Ave. density of 2.8 g/cm^3
- Thickness of 5 to 50 km
- Thickest where mountains are present
- Thinnest along the ocean floor
- Continental crust (thicker but less dense); Oceanic crust (thinner but denser)
- There are 7 large plates and a number of small ones

- There are 3 types of seismic waves: Primary (P) waves, Secondary (S) Waves, Long-surface (L) waves
- P- waves and S-waves travel into the Earth’s interior while L-waves travel on the surface.
- These waves travel at different velocities; they do not arrive at a seismic recording station at the same
time.
- The difference in arrival time will tell us the distance of the focus but it does not tell which direction it
came from.
- Triangular method can be used to determine the epicenter using 3 seismic recording stations. Formula:
d= (Td/interval between times of p and s wave arrival) 100

Types of Plate Boundaries

- There are 3 types of plate boundaries: Divergent, Convergent, Transform-fault

CONVERGING OCEANIC TO CONTINENTAL

- Forms a volcanic arc near the edge of a continental plate
- The dense oceanic crust subducts towards the mantle.
- Forms a trench on the oceanic crust

CONVERGING OCEANIC TO OCEANIC

- Causes tsunamis- a series of ocean waves with very long wavelengths
- Also causes volcanic arcs

CONVERGING CONTINENTAL TO CONTINENTAL

- Forms a mountain range
- The Himalayas was formed by the collision of Eurasia and India

DIVERGENCE OF PLATES
- Formation of rift valleys and oceanic ridges are indications
- Oceanic ridges are underwater mountain ranges
- Seafloor spreading

TRANSFORM FAULT BOUNDARIES

 MODULE 2
The Earth’s Interior

SEISMIC WAVES- Energy in the form of waves that causes earthquakes. There are 2 main types: body
and surfaces waves.

Surface waves- confined to the outer layers of the earth

- 2 types: Love waves and Rayleigh waves
- Loves waves- causes the most destruction to buildings
- Rayleigh waves- cause of most of the shaking to structures during an earthquake

Body waves- have a higher frequency than surface waves. Can travel through the Earth’s inner
layers.

- P-waves and S-waves