Earth's Moving Plates and Boundaries

Understanding Plate Tectonics Year 10 Earth Science Divergent, Convergent & Transform Boundaries

What do you think moves the continents?

Think about what you know about Earth's structure Consider what might cause massive landmasses to shift Share your ideas with the class

Earth's Structure Review

Inner core: solid iron and nickel Outer core: liquid iron and nickel Mantle: hot, flowing rock Crust: thin outer layer where we live

What Are Tectonic Plates?

Large pieces of Earth's crust and upper mantle Float on the flowing mantle below Move very slowly - only centimeters per year Seven major plates plus many smaller ones

Major Tectonic Plates of the World

What Drives Plate Movement?

Heat from Earth's core creates convection currents Hot mantle material rises, cool material sinks These currents drag the plates along Like pieces of paper floating on boiling water

Modeling Convection Activity

Imagine you have a pot of thick soup on the stove Draw arrows showing how the soup would move when heated Hot soup rises, cool soup sinks This is exactly what happens in Earth's mantle!

Three Types of Plate Boundaries

Divergent boundaries - plates move apart Convergent boundaries - plates move together Transform boundaries - plates slide past each other Each type creates different geological features

Divergent Boundaries - Plates Moving Apart

Plates separate and move away from each other Magma rises to fill the gap Creates new oceanic crust Forms mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys

Mid-Atlantic Ridge - A Divergent Boundary

Convergent Boundaries - Plates Colliding

Plates move toward each other and collide Denser oceanic plate subducts under continental plate Creates deep ocean trenches Forms volcanic mountain ranges

Types of Convergent Boundaries

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