Understanding Tectonic Plates

What are tectonic plates?

• Layers of hot rock

• Big rocks in mountains

• Hard Earth core

• Moving crust pieces

What happens when two plates move apart?

• Mountains form

• Earthquakes happen

• Volcanoes erupt

• New crust forms

What makes tectonic plates move?

• Ocean waves

• Earthquakes

• Wind and rain

• Heat in the mantle

How do mountains form when plates collide?

• Plates grind together

• Magma cools into rock

• Plates pull apart

• One plate goes under another

Why do earthquakes happen?

• Plates pull apart

• Crust cools down

• Volcanoes erupt

• Plates grind and release pressure

Why does the mantle keep moving?

• It turns into lava

• It moves during quakes

• Plates push it

• Hot rock flows in a loop

What happens if plates stop moving?

• More quakes happen

• Crust cracks

• Mantle cools

• No new mountains or quakes

Why explain subduction and spreading?

• Show dangers of quakes

• Explain how oceans form

• Describe mantle movement

• Show how plates shape Earth

Why include convection in the text?

• To confuse readers

• To describe magma

• To add extra details

• To explain plate movement

Why use examples like quakes and volcanoes?

• Show plates are dangerous

• Explain natural events

• Compare plates to other parts

• Link plates to real-world effects