PLATE

TECTONICS
By Nishant Dexter
BIRTH OF EARTH
The Earth is the third planet
of the solar system. It was
formed around 4.6 billion
years ago from matter that
was thrown out of the Sun
and later condensed due to
gravity. The outer layer of
this hot molten mass
eventually cooled down.

Dexter recommends: Dig into the Earth and explore some fascinating facts at
http://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/story/20150306-journey-to-the-centre-of-earth/index.html

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CROSS SECTION
OF THE EARTH
‘Cross section’ means a surface exposed by
cutting open a 3D object.

Cross section of the Earth can be seen by

‘cutting’ it open at right angles to the axis.

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 MANTLE OUTER CORE

INNER CORE

CRUST

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5
Seismic waves
Seismic waves are energy waves generated
during earthquakes. As they travel through the
Earth, they get reflected (bounced back) or
refracted (change direction) at the boundary
between layers of the Earth. This helps
geologists determine the interior of the Earth. 6
LAYERS OF EARTH
CRUST MANTLE OUTER CORE INNER CORE

Thickness 10 – 60 km 2890 km 2200 km 1220 km

Temperature 200 – 400 ° C 500 – 4000 ° C 4400 ° C 5505 ° C

Density 2.7 – 3.0 g/cm 3.0 – 5.7 g/cm 9.9 – 12.2 g/cm 12.6 – 13.0
g/cm

State Solid Semi-molten Liquid Solid

Rocks such as
Composition granite and Magma Iron and nickel Iron and nickel
basalt

Dexter recommends: Read more about the interior of the Earth in the following blog:
http://herculeajonesdiv1.weebly.com/earths-4-layers.html
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THE CRUST
× The crust is split up into two parts – the continental
crust, and the oceanic crust.
× The oceanic crust takes up 71% of the Earth’s surface,
and the other 29% of the crust is continental.
× The continental is made up of igneous rocks like
granite, and the oceanic crust is made up of
sedimentary and basalt rocks.
× The continental crust is lighter than the oceanic crust.
× The crust is split up into parts by long cracks that
developed when the Earth cooled down. These cracks
are called fissures.
× Fissures divide the crust into pieces called tectonic
plates that are constantly moving.

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PLATES
OF THE
EARTH
Plates are large portions of the Earth’s crust
separated from one another by plate boundaries.
There are 12 major plates and several minor
plates. These are constantly moving as they float
on the mantle.

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Major tectonic plates

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Why do plates move?
In the mantle,
temperatures range
between 500 to 900 °C at
the top (near crust); to
over 4,000 °C at the
boundary with the core.
Convection: Hot material in
Because of this, a
the mantle flows towards
convectional circulation
the surface (because it is
cycle develops in the
hotter, and therefore less
mantle.
dense) while cooler material
goes down. Many believe
that this convection actually
is the main driver behind
plate tectonics. 11
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 FUN FACT!
The mantle has around 3 times more water than all the
oceans in the world combined.

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TYPES OF PLATE
BOUNDARIES
Divergent / Convergent / Covergent / Conservative
Constructive Destructive / Destructive / / Transform
Subduction Collision
Plates move Plates slide
away from Oceanic and Two continental past one
each other continental plates move another in
plates move towards each opposite
towards each other directions
other

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 Effects of plate
boundaries
Convergent –
Divergent: Convergent –
Collision:
Formation of Subduction: Conservative:
Two continental
new land; Oceanic crust Land is nether
crusts collide and
usually mid- moves below created, nor
rise up to
ocean ridges. continental crust, destroyed.
become fold
Associated with forming trenches. Associated with
mountains.
volcanic Associated with earthquakes.
Associated with
activity. volcanic activity.
earthquakes.

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 IGNEOUS ROCKS
Rocks formed by cooling of magma on
Earth’s crust.

SUBDUCTION
The process in which oceanic crust sinks
below continental crust.

PLATE TECTONICS
The movement of plates of the
Earth relative to each other.
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 Let’s review some
concepts
Interior of Earth Types of crust Convection
- Crust - Continental: thick and Cyclic flow in the mantle
- Mantle less dense
- Outer core - Oceanic: thinner and
denser
- Inner core

Plate boundaries Volcanic activity Earthquakes

- Divergent - Divergent plate margins - Divergent plate
- Convergent - Subduction plate boundaries
(Subduction) margins - Convergent plate
- Convergent (Collision) margins
- Conservative plate
- Conservative
margins

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 ASSIGNMENT
Sketch:
Research using the
1. Interior of the Earth
links used in this
presentation. 2. Four types of plate boundaries
in your notebook and add as many details
as you can in the form of an infographic.

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благодаря!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
nishantk@adityabirlaworldacademy.com

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References
× https
://www.zmescience.com/other/science-abc/thick
est-layer-earth-mantle
/
× http://
herculeajonesdiv1.weebly.com/earths-4-layers.ht
ml

× http:// 20