CHANGES IN THE EARTH

Topic: Earth Physics By: Zarif and Pornad

 INTRODUCTION

• The Earth is constantly changing. These changes can be slow and gradual, or they can be
sudden and dramatic. Geological changes, the movement of plates, fold mountains,
volcanoes, and earthquakes are all examples of how the Earth changes over time.
 KEYWORDS:
• Active: In the context of volcanoes or geological features, "active" refers to those that are currently erupting, and
showing signs of erupting soon.
• Dormant: A dormant volcano or geological feature is one that is currently inactive but has the potential to become
active again in the future.
• Earthquake: Geological Changes: Geological changes refer to modifications that occur in the Earth's surface and
subsurface over time. These changes can include processes like erosion, deposition etc.
• Extinct: An extinct volcano is one that is no longer capable of erupting and is considered inactive.
• Fold mountains: Fold mountains are mountain ranges that form when tectonic plates collide, causing layers of rock to
fold and buckle. The Himalayas are an example of fold mountains.
• Geological change: Geological changes refer to modifications that occur in the Earth's surface and subsurface over
time. These changes can include processes like erosion, deposition etc.

• Lava: Lava is molten rock that erupts from a volcano during an eruption. It flows down the volcano's slopes and, upon
cooling and solidification, forms igneous rock.
• Volcano: A volcano is a geological feature that forms when molten rock, ash, and gasses erupt from the Earth's interior
onto its surface. Volcanoes can be active, dormant, or extinct, depending on their eruptive history.
 GEOLOGICAL CHANGES
The places where tectonic plates meet are called plate boundaries.
Geological changes happens most frequently at plate boundaries. This is because the tectonic plates are always
moving. Some of the geological change is very slow - it happens over millions of years . But some of the
geological change is very sudden and violent.
This illustration shows the plate boundaries around the edge of the pacific ocean. There are many geological
changes and events, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, here. This area is often called the Pacific
Ring of Fire.

Key
Plate boundary
Ring of fire
Volcano
 MOVEMENT OF PLATES
• The Earth's crust is made up of a number of large plates that are constantly moving. The movement of plates can
cause a variety of geological events
Plates Moving Together
One plate may slide underneath the other one. This is called subduction. The rocks
in the Earth’s crust melt as they move into the mantle. They become part of the
mantle.

Plates moving apart

As tectonic plates drift away from each other, they break and crack when
they become too thin. Lava (liquid rock) erupts from the mantle and
hardens to form new crust with new rocks. This cause a volcano.

Plates sliding past

Because the plates are very large and heavy, there is a lot of friction between the
plates. Over the years, this makes the plates stick together. There is always force
on the tectonic plates, so the pressure builds up and eventually the pressure causes
violent movement. This is an earthquake.
 FOLD MOUNTAINS
Rock layers pushed into
folds
Sometimes, when tectonic plates move together, the
rocks crumple and fold upwards. The mountain that this
produces are called fold mountains.
This can happen under the ocean or on land.
The newest fold mountains are between 10 and 25
million years old. These include the Himalayas in Asia
and the Rocky Mountains in North America. The oldest
fold mountains are more than 200 million years old.
Compression from tectonic
These includes the Ural Mountains in Russia. plate movement

The Himalayas, Rocky Mountains and Ural Mountains were all formed when tectonic plates pushed against each other.
 VOLCANOES
Volcanoes are usually formed at the plate boundaries when magma from the mantle rises up through cracks in the Earth’s crust.
At the Earth’s surface, magma erupts to form lava flows and ash deposit. Liquid rock is called Magma when it is underground and
Lava when it is in surface. The lava and ash harden as they cool to form new rocks. So, each time the volcano erupts, it gets bigger.
Sometimes eruption becomes violent when the magma is really thick and contains dissolved gas. Gases and rock shoot up through
the opening and even cause avalanches and earthquakes - and tsunamis if the volcano is close to the sea.
Some volcanoes are active and may erupt any time. Some volcanoes are inactive or dormant means they have not erupted for a long
time. Other volcanoes are extinct means they will not erupt again.

The parts of volcano A powerful eruption at Anak Krakatau volcano. Indonesia. Part
of the volcano was blown off into the sea, causing a tsunami
 EARTHQUAKE
Earthquakes occur when two plates slide past each other or
collide with each other.
Some earthquakes are extremely violent and cause a lot of
damage. Some are so slight that they only register on
scientific instrument.
The size or magnitude of the earthquake depends on the size
of the faults at the plate boundaries, and how far the rocks
move when the earthquake happens. In the largest
earthquakes, the rocks can move tens of metres in seconds.

Earthquakes can cause damage to roads and buildings.

 VIDEO ON HOW MOUNTAINS AND
VOLCANOES FORM:
Video 1: How are volcanoes formed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_pDKyg5YKY

Video 2: How are mountains formed and what are mountains?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQoUI5UuA14
 QUESTIONS
Questions
1. Which statement is true about tectonic plates?
A. They never move
B. They move in different ways
C. They always move towards each other
D. They always Move away form each other

2. Explain how tectonic plates can cause fold mountains to form

3. Which word is used to describe the strength of an earthquake

A. Force
B. Energy
C. Magnitude
D. Destruction

4. Explain what causes an earthquake.

 ANSWER
1. B
2. Plates push against each other; rocks are pushed upward at the boundary.
3. C
4. Forces on tectonic plates; build-up force or pressure; sudden movement.