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Plate Tectonic Theory

The document discusses plate tectonic theory and the three types of plate movements: divergent boundaries where plates separate, convergent boundaries where plates collide, and transform boundaries where plates slide past one another. It explains that convection currents in the mantle, caused by heat from the Earth's core, facilitate the slow movement of tectonic plates along boundaries through processes like ridge push and slab pull.

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70 views11 pages

Plate Tectonic Theory

The document discusses plate tectonic theory and the three types of plate movements: divergent boundaries where plates separate, convergent boundaries where plates collide, and transform boundaries where plates slide past one another. It explains that convection currents in the mantle, caused by heat from the Earth's core, facilitate the slow movement of tectonic plates along boundaries through processes like ridge push and slab pull.

Uploaded by

Dark Angel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Plate Tectonic

Theory
Three Types of Plate Movements
• Separation of two plates (divergent)
• Collision of two plates (convergent)
• Sliding past each other ( transform)
What causes plates to move?
What facilitates the movement of the plates?
Answer: Heat is produced in the core that produces
convection in the mantle
As a substance like water is
heated, the less dense
particles rise while denser
particles sink. Once the
hot less dense particles
cool down, they sink, and
the other less particles
rise. This continues
process is called
CONVECTION CURRENT.
The hot, less dense rising material
spreads out as it reaches the
upper mantle causing upward and
side ward forces. These forces lift
and split the lithosphere at
divergent boundary. The hot
magma flows out of the mantle
and cools down to form new
ocean crust. The downward
movement of the convection
current occurs along a convergent
boundary where the sinking force
pulls the plate downward.
The convection currents
rotates very slowly, as they
move and drag the plates
along, because of this the
plates are able to move
slowly along tectonic
boundaries, pushing each
other, sliding past each
other and drifting away
from each other.
• As an oceanic crust moves
away from a divergent
boundary, it becomes
denser than newer oceanic
crust. As the older seafloor
sinks, the weight of the
uplifted ridge pushes the
oceanic crust towards the
trench at the subduction
zone. This process is called
ridge push.
• Slab pull is the other
possible process
involved in the
tectonic plate
movement. The weight
of the subducting
plate pulls the trailing
slab into the
subduction zone.

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