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Unit 2E B Plates of the Earth
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2. Plates of Earth
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The surface of Earth is made up of large sections called plates
Vocabulary: plates A large section of Earth’s crust
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These plates are like pieces of a puzzle that fit together
There are about 20 plates that make up Earth’s crust
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The seven major plates are the:
Pacific North American* South American African Eurasian Australian Antarctic
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The plates of the crust rest on the hot liquid rock of the mantle below them
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The plates move slowly all the time
They are carried along as the melted rock in the mantle moves
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Most plates move from ¼ inch to 4 inches a year
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Plates can move in several ways
They can move toward each other They can move away from each other They can slide past each other
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When two plates move toward each other, or converge, one plate is pushed down below the other
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Movement of Earth’s plates toward each other
Vocabulary: converge Movement of Earth’s plates toward each other
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When plates under the continent collide, edges of the plates crumple and are pushed up
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A deep ocean trench is then formed
Vocabulary: trench A deep valley formed when two plates under the ocean floor collide
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Mountains such as the Himalayas and Andes were formed when 2 plates converge
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When this occurs under the ocean it is called seafloor spreading
When plates move away from each other, or diverge, molten rock is forced upward to form new land When this occurs under the ocean it is called seafloor spreading
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Movement of Earth’s plates away from each other
Vocabulary: diverge Movement of Earth’s plates away from each other
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The deepest place on Earth called the Mariana Trench was formed with diverging plates
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In other places, plates grind past each other and is called transformation
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Movement of Earth’s plates against each other
Vocabulary: transformation Movement of Earth’s plates against each other
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The line where two plates pass each other is called a fault
Vocabulary: fault A line where two plates of Earth’s crust pass each other (transform)
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Strain is produced on the rocks on both sides of the fault
Many earthquakes occur along faults
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