Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift

All you need to know

The Earth’s crust is divided into large Plates.

Tectonic Plates

The Earth’s crust is divided into large Plates. These Plates are called tectonic Plates.

Tectonic Plates

The Earth’s crust is divided into large Plates. These Plates are called tectonic Plates. They Look like this:

Tectonic Plates

Continents are basically what we see of the tectonic plates above water.

Continents

Continents are basically what we see of the tectonic plates above water.

We can see continents once were joined together.

Continents

Continents are basically what we see of the tectonic plates above water.

We can see continents once were joined together.

But the movement of the tectonic plates has pulled them apart over millions of years.

Continents

How the continents used to look

Continental drift is the thought that the continents are moving or drifting apart and together.

Continental Drift

Continental drift is the thought that the continents are moving or drifting apart and together.

There is evidence that shows us the continents were once together.

Continental Drift

Some evidence of continental drift is;

Continental Drift

Some evidence of continental drift is;◦ There is evidence there used to be a glacier (river

of ice) in the Sahara dessert.

Continental Drift

Some evidence of continental drift is;◦ There is evidence there used to be a glacier (river

of ice) in the Sahara dessert.◦ There are fossils of the same creatures found on

different continents.

Continental Drift

Some evidence of continental drift is;◦ There is evidence there used to be a glacier (river

of ice) in the Sahara dessert.◦ There are fossils of the same creatures found on

different continents.◦ The Edges of the continents fit together like a

jigsaw puzzle

Continental Drift

Some evidence of continental drift is;◦ There is evidence there used to be a glacier (river

of ice) in the Sahara dessert.◦ There are fossils of the same creatures found on

different continents.◦ The Edges of the continents fit together like a

jigsaw puzzle◦ Coal can be found in Antarctica (you need plants

to make coal but right now there are no plants in Antarctica).

Continental Drift

Continental Drift is caused by currents in the mantle.

Continental Drift

Continental Drift is caused by currents in the mantle.

The Magma in the mantle closest to the core heats up and becomes lighter.

Continental Drift

Magma closest to the core heats up

Continental Drift is caused by currents in the mantle.

The Magma in the mantle closest to the core heats up and becomes lighter.

Because it is light it floats to the top.

Continental Drift

Hot Magma Floats to the top

Once the hot magma is at the top it begins to cool.

Continental Drift

Once at the top theMagma cools

Once the hot magma is at the top it begins to cool.

The cooler magma sinks down again because it is heavier.

Continental Drift

The cool magma sinksBack towards the core

Once the hot magma is at the top it begins to cool.

The cooler magma sinks down again because it is heavier.

This creates A circular current that pushes the tectonic plates and continents towards and away from each other.

Continental Drift

Plates move away and towards each other

Circular current

Plates that are pushed together are called converging plates.

Continental Drift

Converging Plates

Plates that are pushed together are called converging plates.

Plates That are pushed apart are called diverging plates

Continental Drift

Diverging Plates

Plates that are pushed together are called converging plates.

Plates That are pushed apart are called diverging plates

Plate that are pushed sideways past each other are called transverse plates

Continental Drift

Transverse Plates

The earth’s crush is on giant tectonic plates. The land above the water of the plates are divided into continents.

Recap

The earth’s crush is on giant tectonic plates. The land above the water of the plates are divided into continents.

The Plates move because of currents in the Mantle

Recap

The earth’s crush is on giant tectonic plates. The land above the water of the plates are divided into continents.

The Plates move because of currents in the Mantle

Converging, Diverging and transverse are the three kinds of plate boundaries.

Recap