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Plate Tectonic Theory
Jessica Wilsey
A UDL lesson plan
What is plate tectonic theory?
• Plate tectonics is a theory that describes the
movements of the Earth’s lithosphere.
▫ The lithosphere is made of 8 major plates
and many minor plates.
▫ The lithosphere includes the crust and the
upper mantle.
Tectonic Plates of Earth
Image retrieved from: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/slabs.html
What happens when two plates meet?
• The place where two plates meet is called a
plate boundary. There are three primary
types of plate boundaries.
▫ Divergent Boundary
▫ Convergent Boundary
▫ Transform Boundary
Divergent Plate Boundary
• Two plates moving apart from each other.
• Lava from the upper mantle fills the gap,
causing rifts or ridges to form.
Image retrieved from: http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/tectonic_plates/boundaries_boundary_types.html
Leif the Lucky Bridge in Iceland
Bridge spanning the
divergent boundary
of the Eurasian and
North American
plates.
Image retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bridge_across_continents_iceland.jpg
Convergent Plate Boundary
• Two plates moving towards each other collide; causing one
plate to be forced under the other. This process is called
subduction.
• Subduction zones typically see a change of 2 to 8
centimeters per year.
• Known for high rates of volcanic activity, earthquakes, and
mountain building.
Image retrieved from: http://geography.parkfieldprimary.com/hazards/plate-tectonics
Convergent Plate Boundary
• Two plates moving towards each other
collide, can also cause an uprising of
magma and rock, creating mountains.
Image retrieved from: http://geography.parkfieldprimary.com/hazards/plate-tectonics
Mt. Everest in the Himalayan Mountain Range
The Himalayan Mountain
Range is formed by a
convergent boundary
between the Indian and
the Eurasian plates.
Average rate of growth is
15 cm per year.
Image retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Everest_-_Polish_International_Mt_Everest_expedition_99.jpg
Transform Plate Boundary
• Two plates moving
in opposite
directions past each
other, forming
faults.
• Does not create or
destroy lithosphere.
• Known for frequent
earthquakes.
Image retrieved from: http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/tectonic_plates/boundaries_boundary_types.html
San Andreas Fault in California
The San Andreas Fault is a
transformation boundary
between the Pacific and North
American plates. The plates
move about 3.5 cm per year.
Image retrieved from: http://www.sanandreasfault.org/4020_A.jpg