lesson one: tectonic plates

tectonic plates

used by scientists to describe movement of the lithosphere

tectonic plates

massive, irregular slabs of solid rock that envelope the surface of lithospheric plate

due to heat which melts parts of the mantle

why do tectonic plates move?

tectonicus, tektonikos, “to build”

tectonic came from the latin ___ and the greek ___ which means ___

plate tectonic theory

the idea that the earth’s crusts are broken into sections called tectonic / lithospheric plates that move around on the mantle

plate tectonic theory

explains the different processes that cause the formation of different geologic features & phenomenon

• africa and south america fit together like a jigsaw puzzle

• fossils

evidence that the continents were once connected

alfred wegener (1880-1930), pangaea

german meteorologist & geophysicist who hypothesized and suggested that the landmasses of earth were once merged into a supercontinent known as ___

lithosphere

outermost layer of the earth

upper part of the mantle and the crust

the lithosphere consists of what?

80 km deep

how deep does the lithosphere extend

crust

made of various types of rock & sendiment

plate tectonic theory

explains how the earth was built

1. north america

2. south america

3. eurasian

4. pacific

5. indo-australian

6. african

7. antartic

7 major plates

1. philippine

2. caribbean

3. locos

4. nazca

5. scotia

6. juan de fuca

7. arabian

7 intermediate plates

laurasia & gondwanaland

pangaea is divided into 2 parts: ____________

slow & constant

the plates move in a ___ motion

northwest, 8 cm (3 in)

the pacific plate moves ___ at a rate of ___ per year

west-southwest, 3 cm (1 in)

the north american plate moves ___ at a rate of ___ per year