Tectonic plates can be divided into two categories:
Oceanic crust is:
- thin and heavy
- covered by seas and oceans
Examples include: Pacific plate and Antarctic plate
Continental crust is:
- thick and light
- what forms land
Examples include: South American plate and Eurasian plate
Note: A plate can be made of both oceanic and continental crust
The map opposite shows the location of the different tectonic plates (figure 1).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oceanic crust is:
- thin and heavy
- covered by seas and oceans
Examples include: Pacific plate and Antarctic plate
Continental crust is:
- thick and light
- what forms land
Examples include: South American plate and Eurasian plate
Note: A plate can be made of both oceanic and continental crust
The map opposite shows the location of the different tectonic plates (figure 1).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Continental drift is the movement of these plates. They either move together, apart or slide against one another. Different types of crust move differently. Oceanic crust is heavier and therefore is more likely to sink.
Convection currents push the plates apart or pull them together (as seen in figure 2)
Plate boundaries are where two plates meet. Depending what type of crust they are made of, and which direction the convection current is taking them, different outcomes will occur.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Convection currents push the plates apart or pull them together (as seen in figure 2)
Plate boundaries are where two plates meet. Depending what type of crust they are made of, and which direction the convection current is taking them, different outcomes will occur.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This video explain continental drift and convection currents- give it a watch! |
|