READING MATERIAL

Question

Read About Tectonic Plates

WHAT ARE TECTONIC PLATES?
The outermost layer of the earth is called the crust and it is broken into large pieces
called tectonic plates. These huge pieces of Earth’s surface slowly move at about the
speed that your fingernails grow. Their movement form mountains, causes earthquakes
and they even rearrange the position of continents.
To better understand tectonic plates...

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

Movement of tectonic plates is powered by convection.
Rock in the earth is still extremely hot
and it can slowly circulate inside the
earth through convection, the
process of warm fluids rising and
cooler fluids sinking. This slow
movement of hot rock inside the
earth is what powers the movement
of tectonic plates at the surface.
Scientists believe tectonic plates
move from 2-15 cm a year.

Page 1

There are 3 main types of plate boundaries.
Areas where the plates meet are
called boundaries. The first type of
plate boundary is called a
convergent boundary. This is when
two plates are moving toward each
other. The second type is called a
divergent boundary. This is when
plates are moving away from each
other. The third plate boundary type
is a transform boundary. This is when tectonic plates are sliding past each other.

Continental drift is supported by scientific evidence.
When Alfred Wegner first proposed
the idea that a continent could
move across an ocean, people
thought he was crazy. He needed
evidence such as fossils found on
different continents, the matching
shapes of the continents, rock
evidence from different continents
that match and the mechanism of
tectonic plate movement. This theory is widely accepted due to the many kinds of evidence
that support it.

The Ring of Fire is caused by tectonic plates.
The Ring of Fire is a term given to a
circular region on a world map that
has a lot of volcanic eruptions and
earthquakes. When compared to a
map of tectonic plates, this Ring of
Fire lines up almost perfectly. This
supports the idea that plate
movement causes earthquakes and
volcanos. Scientists who study these
events use data from plate movements to help make predictions about future earthquakes or
eruptions.

Scientists called seismologists study plate tectonics.
There are more than 20,000
earthquakes that happen on Earth
every year. Seismologists collect and
analyze data such as the size,
location and depth of earthquakes.
They use this data to predict where
more earthquakes could strike. One
special tool they use is called a
seismograph. Volcanologists and geologists also study plate tectonics.

TECTONIC PLATES VOCABULARY

Earth’s Crust The outer most layer of the Earth. This is the layer we walk on.
Tectonic Plates Slowly moving pieces of Earth’s crust.
Convection Movement caused by warm fluids rising and cooler fluids sinking.

Divergent Boundary A boundary of two tectonic plates where the plates move away from each
other.

Convergent
Boundary A boundary of two tectonic plates where the plates move towards each other.
Transform Boundary A boundary of two tectonic plates where the plates slide past each other.

TECTONIC PLATES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Describe the layers of the Earth.
The Earth’s crust is the top layer. Next comes the mantle which is made of hot solid rock that can
move very slowly over years. The inner-most layer is the core. The core is the hottest but is a
solid due to being made mostly of iron and nickel under intense pressure from all the rock above
it.
Describe the 3 main kinds of plate boundaries.
Convergent boundaries are where boundaries move towards each other. Divergent boundaries
are when plates move apart. Transform boundaries are when plates slide past each other.
What is Pangea?
Pangea is a super continent predicted by the theory of continental drift. Scientists believe that
about 240 million years ago all the continents were one large one called Pangea. The land of
Pangea then broke apart due to tectonic plate movement and moved over millions of years.
This idea is well supported by multiple lines of evidence.
What is subduction and what causes it?
Subduction occurs when two plates converge, and one slides under the other. This is common
when continental plates meet oceanic plates. Because the oceanic plate is denser, it slides
under the continental plate.
What is uplift and what causes it?
Uplift occurs when two plates converge and force land upwards creating mountains. The best
example of this is the Himalayan Mountains. These huge mountains were formed by the Indian
plate and Eurasian plate converging over more than 50 million years.
How does convection work and how does it move tectonic plates?
Convection is the process of warm fluids rising and cooler fluids sinking. Inside the Earth,
convection is powered by heat mostly from the core. The slow circulation of rock in the mantle
moves the tectonic plates at the surface.

using the info above answer the questions below like a 14 year old would

1. What are some natural disasters that change Earth's surface?
2. What causes an earthquake?
3. Why is it important that scientists study tectonic plates?
4. Describe the 3 main kinds of plate boundaries.
5. How does convection work and how does it move tectonic plates?

Answer 1

Sure! Here are the answers to the questions in a way a 14-year-old might respond:

1. What are some natural disasters that change Earth's surface?
   Some natural disasters that change the Earth's surface include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. These events can create new landforms, like mountains and craters, or even change the shape of coastlines.

2. What causes an earthquake?
   Earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. When these plates slide past each other or bump into each other, they can get stuck due to friction. When the pressure builds up enough, they suddenly release, causing vibrations that we feel as an earthquake.

3. Why is it important that scientists study tectonic plates?
   It’s important for scientists to study tectonic plates because understanding how they move helps us predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This information can keep people safe by preparing them for these disasters and understanding how the Earth's surface changes over time.

4. Describe the 3 main kinds of plate boundaries.
   The three main types of plate boundaries are:

   • Convergent boundaries: where two tectonic plates move toward each other, which can cause mountains to form or lead to one plate sliding under another.
   • Divergent boundaries: where plates move apart from each other. This usually happens at mid-ocean ridges and can create new ocean floor.
   • Transform boundaries: where plates slide past one another horizontally. This can cause earthquakes along fault lines, like the San Andreas Fault in California.

5. How does convection work and how does it move tectonic plates?
   Convection works by warm material rising and cooler material sinking. Inside the Earth, the heat from the core makes the rock in the mantle move. This slow movement creates currents that eventually push and pull the tectonic plates at the surface, causing them to shift over time.