U2L5: Plate Tectonics & Landforms
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What are tectonic plates?
Tectonic plates are rigid sections of the lithosphere that float on and move over the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them.
Where are tectonic plates located in Earth’s layers?
They make up the lithosphere, which sits above the asthenosphere in the upper mantle.
What is the primary driving force of plate movement?
Convection currents in the mantle caused by heat from Earth’s interior.
Where does plate movement occur?
Movement occurs at plate boundaries where plates interact.
What is a tectonic plate boundary?
The edges where two tectonic plates meet and interact.
What is tension stress?
A type of stress that pulls rock apart, causing it to stretch and thin.
What is compression stress?
A stress that pushes rocks together, causing them to shorten and thicken.
What is shear stress?
A stress where rocks slide past each other horizontally.
How do earthquakes occur from stress?
Stress builds along a fault until it releases suddenly, causing ground vibration.
What happens at a convergent boundary (general)?
Plates move toward each other, forming mountains, trenches, and volcanic arcs.
What stress occurs at convergent boundaries?
Compression.
What landforms form at convergent boundaries?
Mountain belts, trenches, volcanic arcs.
What happens at a continental-continental convergent boundary?
Two continental plates collide, forming large mountain ranges.
What landforms form at continental-continental convergence?
Massive mountain belts like the Himalayas.
What happens at an oceanic-continental convergent boundary?
The denser oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate.
What landforms form at oceanic-continental convergence?
Volcanic arcs and deep ocean trenches.
What happens at a divergent boundary (general)?
Plates move away from each other.
What stress occurs at divergent boundaries?
Tension.
What landforms form at general divergent boundaries?
Rift valleys and mid-ocean ridges.
What happens at a divergent boundary under continental crust?
Continental crust stretches and forms rift valleys.
What happens at a divergent boundary under oceanic crust?
Sea-floor spreading occurs as new oceanic crust forms.
What happens at a transform boundary?
Plates slide horizontally past each other.
What stress occurs at transform boundaries?
Shear.
What events occur at transform boundaries?
Earthquakes and offset surface features.