Theory of Plate Tectonics

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Unit 2

Multiple Choice

Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, and Mesosphere are part of which group of layers?

• Mechanical (Physical)

• Compositional (Chemical)

Multiple Choice

Crust, Mantle, and Core are the _________ layers.

• Mechanical (Physical)

• Compositional (Chemical)

​Review:

• ​Crust

• ​Mantle

• ​Core

​Review:

• Lithosphere

• ​Asthenosphere

• ​Mesopshere

• ​Outer Core

• ​Inner Core

Multiple Choice

Which layer is under the most pressure?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Multiple Choice

Which layer is the hottest?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Multiple Choice

The tectonic plates are part of which mechanical layer?

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

• Mesosphere

Multiple Choice

The Earth's surface is constantly moving and changing.

• True

• False

​Alfred Wegner: Continental Drift

• ​Alfred Wegner came up with the Theory of Continental Drift in 1915.

• ​He believed the continents were once all part of a super-continent he called "Pangea" meaning "all Earth,"

Open Ended

What did Alfred Wegner do?

​Plate Boundaries

• ​The Crust/Lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates.

• ​These tectonic plates are always moving, but very slowly

• ​The edges where the plates meet are called plate boundaries

Open Ended

What are plate boundaries?

​There are 3 types of plate boundaries:

• Divergent

• ​Convergent

• ​Transform

​Convergent Boundaries

• ​Convergent boundaries are where two plates are coming together, or "converging"

• ​This is how mountains form!

Multiple Choice

Convergent boundaries are where _______

• Plates come together

• Plates move apart

• Plates grind past each other

​Convergent Boundaries

• ​Subduction also occurs at convergent boundaries

• ​This is where one plate "subducts" or goes underneath the other plate - this is called a "subduction zone"

• ​This causes volcanoes!

• ​(The Ring of Fire is a major subduction zone in the Pacific Ocean with lots of volcanoes)

​Transform Boundaries

• ​Transform boundaries are where two plates are grinding against each other

• Fault lines are cracks in the crust where earthquakes often occur.

• ​A famous fault line with lots of earthquakes is San Andreas Fault in California

Multiple Choice

Where is San Andreas Fault?

• New York

• Indiana

• Hawaii

• California

Divergent Boundaries

• ​Divergent boundaries are where plates move apart from each other

• ​This can create rift valleys (and split apart continents- like Africa!)

​Great African Rift Valley

​Divergent Boundaries in the Ocean

• ​In the ocean where the crust is very thin, magma pushes through where the plates are moving apart.

• ​This forms the Mid-Atlantic ridge, a chain of underwater "mountains" and causes a process called sea floor spreading

Multiple Choice

Divergent boundaries are where plates ____________

• Come together

• Move apart

• Grind past each other

• Stay still

​Summary:

​Summary, part 2

Multiple Choice

Volcanoes and mountains form along which type of boundary?

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

Fissures, cracks, and rifts form along which type of boundary?

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Transform

Multiple Select

Earthquakes and tsunamis occur along which TWO types of boundaries?

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Transform