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PLATE TECTONICS THEORY

The structure of the Earth and tectonic plate movement

What is the structure of the earth?

The Earth is made up of a series of layers. The centre of our planet is called the core. There are two distinct
layers within the core. The outer core is fluid and mostly made of iron and nickel. The inner core is solid.
Beyond the outer core is the mantle. This layer is almost 3000km thick and is composed of very hot, dense
rock. There are two main types of crust: oceanic and continental.

TYPE OF DENSITY THICKNESS BEHAVIOUR STRENGTH AGE OF

CRUST CRUSTAL
MATERIAL
OCEANIC

CONTINENT
AL

Is the Earth’s crust solid?

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 1. PLATE TECTONICS THEORY
Plate tectonics theory proposes that the Earth’s crust is split into sections called tectonic plates. These plates
are constantly moving around on top of the mantle, at an average speed of 70mm per year. The places where
plates meet, called plate margins, are related to seismic (earthquake) and volcanic activity.

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KEY

What makes plates move?

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 1. PLATE TECTONICS THEORY
The crust on which we live acts as though it is floating on a layer of molten material; this is called the
mantle. Inside the Earth there are convection currents within the mantle that move heated molten material
upwards from the core, up towards the crust. Here it cools and sinks back down to the core, so that the cycle
can start again. These convection currents cause the crust above them to move.

It was these convection currents that first broke up the crust, creating plates. The theory that explains this
process and the related landforms and hazards is plate tectonics theory.

What is Pangea?

Plate margins and their processes and landforms

What are plate margins?

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 1. PLATE TECTONICS THEORY
There are four main types of plate margins:

1. CONSTRUCTIVE

PROCESS

LANDFORMS

EXAMPLES

2. DESTRUCTIVE (OCEANIC AND CONTINENTAL)

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 1. PLATE TECTONICS THEORY

PROCESS

LANDFORMS

EXAMPLES

2. DESTRUCTIVE (OCEANIC AND OCEANIC)

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 1. PLATE TECTONICS THEORY

PROCESS

LANDFORMS

EXAMPLES

3. COLLISION

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 1. PLATE TECTONICS THEORY

PROCESS

LANDFORMS

EXAMPLES

4. CONSERVATIVE

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 1. PLATE TECTONICS THEORY

PROCESS

LANDFORMS

EXAMPLES

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