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    The Theory of Plate Tectonics

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    jhemz
    The document discusses the theory of plate tectonics, including what plates are, how they move, and the three types of plate boundaries. Plates consist of sections of Earth's lithosphere that move atop the mantle. Convection currents in the mantle drive their slow motion. Plate boundaries include divergent boundaries where plates move apart, convergent boundaries where they move together, and transform boundaries where they slide past each other. Divergent boundaries experience tension that causes normal faults and rift valleys or seafloor spreading.

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    The Theory of Plate Tectonics

    Uploaded by

    jhemz
    81 views4 pages
    The document discusses the theory of plate tectonics, including what plates are, how they move, and the three types of plate boundaries. Plates consist of sections of Earth's lithosphere that move atop the mantle. Convection currents in the mantle drive their slow motion. Plate boundaries include divergent boundaries where plates move apart, convergent boundaries where they move together, and transform boundaries where they slide past each other. Divergent boundaries experience tension that causes normal faults and rift valleys or seafloor spreading.

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    The Theory of Plate Tectonics for high school

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    The document discusses the theory of plate tectonics, including what plates are, how they move, and the three types of plate boundaries. Plates consist of sections of Earth's lithosphere that move atop the mantle. Convection currents in the mantle drive their slow motion. Plate boundaries include divergent boundaries where plates move apart, convergent boundaries where they move together, and transform boundaries where they slide past each other. Divergent boundaries experience tension that causes normal faults and rift valleys or seafloor spreading.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    81 views4 pages

    The Theory of Plate Tectonics

    Uploaded by

    jhemz
    The document discusses the theory of plate tectonics, including what plates are, how they move, and the three types of plate boundaries. Plates consist of sections of Earth's lithosphere that move atop the mantle. Convection currents in the mantle drive their slow motion. Plate boundaries include divergent boundaries where plates move apart, convergent boundaries where they move together, and transform boundaries where they slide past each other. Divergent boundaries experience tension that causes normal faults and rift valleys or seafloor spreading.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 4

    The Theory of Plate Tectonics - Boundaries, Stresses, and Faults

    1. What is the theory of plate tectonics?


    2.What are the three types of plate boundaries?
    What are Plates?
    • The Earth’s crust and upper mantle (Lithosphere) are broken into sections called plates
    • Plates move around on top of the
    mantle like rafts
    • A section of the lithosphere that
    slowly moves over the
    asthenosphere, carrying pieces of
    continental and oceanic crust.

    What is the Theory of Plate Tectonics?


    The theory that pieces of
    Earth’s lithosphere are in
    constant motion, driven by
    convection currents in the
    mantle.

    Plates move slowly in


    different directions

     Cause different geologic


    events (like earthquake,
    volcano, etc.)

    What makes the plates move?

    Convection Currents in the mantle move


    the plates as the core heats the slowly-
    flowing asthenosphere (the elastic/plastic-
    like part of the mantle).
    The edges of Earth’s plates meet at
    plate boundaries.
     Extended deep into the lithosphere
    FAULT – Breaks in Earth’s crust
    where rocks have slipped past each
    other.
    • Divergent Boundaries

    • Convergent Boundaries

    • Transform Boundaries

    Divergent Boundaries
    A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.

    
    RIFTING causes SEAFLOOR SPREADING

    How is the rock pulled at Divergent Boundaries?

    Rock gets THIN in the middle as it is pulled apart.


    This STRESS is called TENSION.

    What happens when the rock SNAPS from the Stress of Tension?

    A Normal Fault (fault is a break in Earth’s crust)


    Rock drops down as it breaks

    What happens next at Divergent


    Boundaries?

    • A geologic feature or event…

    May form RIFT VALLEYS on


    continents

    SEA-FLOOR SPREADING in the ocean

    • Divergent is like “dissecting” or “dividing”

    • If you pull warm bubble gum or silly putty, it will thin


    in the middle until it is stressed so much that it breaks.

    • Happens on land & under H2O

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