LESSON 1

PLATE
TECTONICS
What can you observe
about the picture
P L AT E T E C TO N I C S T H E O RY
The Tectonic Plate

• A Canadian scientist , J.
Tuzo Wilson studied
Wegener’s continental drift
and together with the new
findings on the seafloor
spreading came up with the
plate tectonics theory.
 The Theory
• The plate tectonics theory explains that the
lithosphere, which is made up of the crust and the
upper mantle, is divided into sections called plates.
• The plates are so closed together that their
interlocking arrangement affects the other plates
nearby.
• When one plate moves, the others are also affected.
The Earth is made up of 3
main layers:
Crust

Mantle

Core
 Crust
• The plates move along smoothly but sometimes they
get stuck and pressure builds up.
 Mantle
• The mantle is the largest layer
of the Earth.
• It is made of hot, dense rock.
The rock in the mantle flows
like asphalt because of the
temperature differences found
in the mantle.
• The movement of the mantle
create the movement of the
Earth’s plates.
 Core
• The core of the Earth
is much like a ball of
very hot metals. The
inner core is
surrounded by a fluid
iron outer core.
 EXAMPLE
• Study the data showing the difference of arrival time of P-wave and S-wave on three
seismic recording station.

Time difference (Td) Distance (d) of

Computed distance
in the arrival time of epicenter from the
Recording Station using the scale (cm)
P-wave and S-wave station
(s) (x 1.5 cm / 200 km)
(km)
Cavite 28 350
Virac 40
Vigan 12
• Compute the distance of the epicenter from each of the stations using the formula

Where: d = distance (km)

Td = time difference in the arrival time of P-wave and S-wave (in seconds)
• Choose one of the recording stations and measure the computed distance on the map scale
(the scale of the map is 1.5 cm: 200 km). Set your compass for that computed distance.
• Center your compass on the station you have chosen. Draw a circle.
• Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the rest of the stations. You should get three circles that intersect
or nearly intersect at a point. This intersection is the epicenter
 EXAMPLE
• Study the data showing the difference of arrival time of P-wave and S-wave on three
seismic recording station.

Time difference (Td) Distance (d) of

Computed distance
in the arrival time of epicenter from the
Recording Station using the scale (cm)
P-wave and S-wave station
(s) (x 1.5 cm / 200 km)
(km)
Cavite 28 350km 2.625cm

Virac 40

Vigan 12
Forum 1.1: Plate Tectonics
Forum 1.2: Types of Crust
Learning Task 1.1: Find the Center
Forum 1.3: Find the Center Guide
Questions