1. Possible Causes of Tectonic Plate Motion

2. Tectonic vs. Lithospheric Plates A tectonic plate is a piece of lithosphere that moves around on top of the asthenosphere.

3. Tectonic vs. Lithospheric Plates A lithospheric plate is a piece of lithosphere that moves around on top of the asthenosphere.

4. Tectonic vs. Lithospheric Plates How are tectonic and lithospheric plates different? –THEY ARE NOT! –Different names for the same thing!

5. Three Possible Driving Forces Convection Slab Pull Ridge Push

6. Convection Hot, less dense material rises while cooler, more dense material sinks. The hot material cools and the cool material warms up and the cycle continues. As the mantle moves, tectonic plates are dragged sideways. Occurs in the mantle

7. Slab Pull Oceanic lithosphere is more dense than the asthenosphere. When the edge of the oceanic plate sinks, the rest of the plate is pulled with it. Occurs at subduction zones

8. Ridge Push Oceanic lithosphere is higher at the ridge than where it sinks beneath continental lithosphere. Oceanic plates slide down the lithosphere- asthenosphere boundary during ridge push. Occurs at divergent boundaries

11. How far do they move? Tectonic plates move just centimeters per year