Science Starter Name each layer of the earth from outside to inside Which layer of the earth is the longest (deepest)? Why does hot air rise?

Objective SWBAT identify the layers of the earth and understand how the heating of the earth effects the lithosphere SWBAT analyze the relationship between the type of tectonic plate boundary and the land formations that develop.

What causes plate tectonics? Essential Question What causes plate tectonics?

Exit Ticket What is convection? Where does convection take place in the earth? What is the heat source for the convection? How does convection relate to how the plates move? How much do lithospheric plates move each year?

Lithospheric Plates Lithosphere. The rigid outer shell of the Earth Composed of the crust and some of the upper mantle broken into a series of moving plates. divergent boundary, a convergent boundary or a transform boundary are all forms of boundaries found in between plates

What drives the movement of the lithospheric plates? As the outer core warms up certain parts of mantle, the magma becomes less dense. Since it is less dense, it rises. As the outer core rises, it moves the lithosphere horizontally (slab pull) Eventually, this magma cools off and becomes more dense and sinks This process of heated magma rising and then cooling and sinking is called convection

In what layer are the plates? Lithosphere (Crust and Upper Mantle) In what layer does convection occur? Mantle

How does this relate to Earth Science? The core is the heat source for the thermal convection taking place in the mantle. The unequal distribution of heat within the Earth causes thermal convection in the mantle that ultimately drives plate motion

A little bit more… The lithospheric plates move relative to each other at a very slow but continuous rate that averages about 5 centimeters per year – about as fast as your fingernails grow! The movement of the plates is driven by unequal distribution of heat within the Earth Hot material found deep in the mantle moves slowly upward as part of the earths internal convection system At the same time, cooler denser slabs of oceanic lithosphere descend into the mantle, setting the earths rigid outer shell into motion

Exit Ticket What is convection? Where does convection take place in the earth? What is the heat source for the convection? How does convection relate to how the plates move? How much do lithospheric plates move each year?