Download Techtonic Plates and Boundaries Notes

Plate Techtonics and Plate Boundaries
Direct Instruction Guided Notes
_____________ _______________ is the process where land masses have pulled apart and joined together.



Earth’s _________ is divided into ____ major plates which are moved in various directions.
This motion causes them to _____________, ______ _________, or ___________ against each other.
Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of Earth structures or ________________ features.
o _____________ refers to the deformation of the crust as a consequence of plate interaction.

Techtonic plates are made of rigid __________________.
o The lithosphere is made up of the ____________ and the __________ part of the _____________
o Below the lithosphere is the ________________________.
 Remember that the mantle is made up of 1-5% liquid which allows it to flow easily (like jello).
Plate Boundaries

Occur when plates ____________
o _______________________ Boundary occurs when plates move __________ from each other

Spreading Ridges----as plates move apart, _______ ___________ material can _______ ____ to
fill the gap, causing ______________ activity.
o _______________________ Boundary occurs when plates move __________ from each other

3 types:
 ___________________________________________________
o

Forms ______________________
_________________________________________________
o Called _______________________

Oceanic lithosphere _______________ underneath the continental
lithosphere.
 Oceanic lithosphere _________ and dehydrates as it subsides.
 The melt ___________ forming ______________.
 _________________________________________________
o When _______ oceanic plates collide, one runs over the other which causes it to
sink into the mantle forming a ____________________ _____________
o The subducting plate is _______ __________________ to form a very deep
depression in the ocean floor called a ______________.
o _______________________ Boundary occurs when plates __________ _________ each other


___________________ are formed by: ______________________, _______________, ____________________
o Subduction- The subducting slab ________________ to form new melt that will rise up through the
___________ to be erupted at the surface.
o Rifting- When two plates pull apart magma rises, producing ____________ eruptions at the surface.
o Hotspots- do _______ necessarily occur along a plate boundary.
 This occurs when hot ___________ plumes breaching the surface in the middle of a techtonic
plate.
_______________ typically form between plates.
o Friction causes the plates to stick together, then built up _________ causes them to break.