tectonic plates els

tectonic plates

massive, inflexible portions of the Earth’s lithosphere. they are large portions of rock that move and slowly interact w each other to create mountains, volcanoes, trenches n earthquakes

oceanic plates are made out of this.

basalt; therefore it is denser and heavier than continental plates

continental plates are made out of…

granite

types of plate boundaries

divergent - plates move apart; produce trench

convergent - plates move towards each other; produce mountains

transform - plates slip past each other; produce earthquake

convection current

the primary driver of tectonic plate movement and propelled by core and radioactive decay. a constant cycle of hot, less dense mantle material ascending, spreading, cooling to become denser, and sinking back towards the core

convergent boundary

-two tectonic plates are moving towards one another

-cause one plate to slide beneath the other (called subduction), creating deep ocean trenches and volcanic mountain ranges

divergent boundary

-when two tectonic plates separate, magma rises from the Earth’s mantle to fill the void, creating new crust

-seafloor spreading; makes mid ocean ridge

-can form new oceans from the separating of continental plates

transform boundary

-where two tectonic plates glide past one another horizontally

-does not affect the lithosphere

-triggers shallow earthquakes, fractures, creates strike-slip faults

seafloor spreading

it is the widening of ocean basin due to the separation of plates in the mid ocean.

Lower density

Magma rises because it is of

mountain ranges ex. Himalayas

the product of convergent continental-continental plates

subduction occurs whereas the oceanic plates sinks underneath the continental which produces volcanic mountain chains + deep ocean trenches.

the product of convergent oceanic-continental plates

subduction occurs, denser plate (usually older) sinks which produces volcanic island arcs + deep ocean trenches.

the product of convergent oceanic-oceanic plates

rift valleys ex. East African Rift

the product of divergent continental-continental plates

seafloor spreading, mid ocean ridges

the product of divergent oceanic-oceanic plates

fault lines ex. San Andreas Fault, earthquakes

the product of transform boundaries

Eurasian and NA plates

African and South American plates

Diverging plates include these plates

Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR)

An underwater mountain range that borders where the Atlantic ocean split

Eurasian and Pacific plate

Converging plates include these plates