Chemsitry tectonic plates

this diagram shows how scientists think the some of the continents may have looked about 200 million years ago. describe what has happened to these continents to move them to their current position.

These continents have separated (continental drift), due to the movement of tectonic plates which is caused by convection currents

Give 3 statements of evidence for tectonic plates.

1. the same types of fossils have been found in different continents.

2. volcanoes and earthquakes are more likely to happen in particular places.

3. the alignment of magnetic materials in rocks varies with the age of the rock.

one of these parts contains large convection currents. state which part.

Mantle

describe what causes mantle to have convection currents.

The molten rock gets heated from the core. The heated less dense material rises up and floats to reach to the crust. It cools down, then sinks back down again, creating a continuous flow.

describe how these convection currents cause the movement of tectonic plates.

The movement of molten rock pulls to crust along with it.

Use this information and ideas about tectonic plates to suggest why the continents of North America and Europe are moving away from each other.

The new rock is forming in the middle. This pushes the tectonic plates on either side.

Most of the underwater volcanoes and earthquakes in the Atlantic Ocean occur along the Mid-Atlantic ridge. Suggest why.

The tectonic plates was at the boundary of two plates. Volcanoes occur because of the molten rock being pushed up. Earthquakes occur because of 2 adjacent of 2 tectonic plates.

What does tectonic plates mean?

The Earth’s crust that can move relative to each other.

Give one evidence that the continents were once together.

Same fossil evidence were found on different continents that are far apart.

Give another one.

Similar pattern of alignment of magnetic rocks are seen in either side of Mid-Atlantic ocean.

Explain why there is a pattern of magnetic stripes on two sides of mid-oceanic ridge.

Magma is rich in iron compounds. This magma forms rock that is magnetised in the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field. So, similar pattern of alignment of magnetic rocks are seen on either side of mid-Atlantic ocean.