Download Changes in the Earth`s surface

Changes in the Earth’s surface
1.5 unit 1, theme 1 – My wider world
Learning objectives
• What are tectonic plates?
• What causes tectonic plates to move?
• What effects do movement of the Earth’s
tectonic plates cause?
• Can scientists predict earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions?
Heated soup
• Skin forms on the
surface
• Cracks and wrinkles
appear and there is
slight movement of
the skin
• The soup is being
heated from below
Mantle
• Being heated strongly from below
• Heat coming from nuclear reactions in the
core
• The heat causes convection currents in the
mantle
• This causes areas of the crust to move around
Explain how the circulation of soup in
the saucepan can be used to represent
convection in the Earth’s mantle
Tectonic plates
• Earth’s crust is in several huge peieces
• Called tectonic plates
• They are moved slowly around by convection
currents in the mantle
• This has been happening for billions of years
• How many tectonic plates?
• Which are moving towards each other?
• Which are slipping past each other?
Crust being dragged into the mantle, heats up fast and
then rises up to form a volcano.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/scienceenvironment-24007339
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ge
ography/natural_hazards/volcanoes_video.sht
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