Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics

1. Volcanoes

   • Composite
     • Infrequent Erruptions but violent
     • Thick, sticky Larva
   • Shield
     • Frequent Erruptions
     • Thin Runny Larva

2. Inside the earth

   • In the mantle there is a convection current where the hot air rises and sinks when it cools
   • The crust is split into 14 major plates and 38 minor plates
   • Key Terms
     • Crust
       • Outer layer of the earth
     • Plate
       • A section of the earth's crust
     • Plate Margin
       • The boundary where 2 plates meet
     • Mantle
       • The dense layer
       • Semi-liquid layer
     • Convection currents
       • The process of air rising and sinking

3. Crust

   • Oceanic Crust
     • Newer- generally less than 200 million years old
     • Can possibly sink
     • Denser
     • Can be renewed and destroyed
   • Continental Crust
     • Can't sink
     • Older - More than 1500 million years old
     • Less dense
     • Cannot be destroyed or renewed

4. Plate Margins

   • Destructive Plate Margins
     • Where the plates move towards each other and collide
     • The most destructive is when a continental plate collides with a oceanic plate, the oceanic plate sinks bellow the continental. (subduction Zone)
   • Constructive
     • Where the plates move apart or diverge
     • A volcano is formed in the gap
   • COnservative Boundaries
     • Plates moving across each other
     • The plates are moving at different speeds in different directions

Images and files in the map