What is a tectonic plate BBC Bitesize?

Tectonic plates are pieces of the rocky outer layer of the Earth known as the crust. These plates are constantly moving, and volcanoes and earthquakes are found at plate boundaries. Geography.

What are tectonic plates BBC Bitesize ks2?

And like an eggshell, the crust has cracked and split into many different pieces called tectonic plates. These plates can be oceanic, meaning they’re found mainly under the ocean, or continental, and mainly found under land. And they are moved around, constantly fuelled by energy from the very hot mantle below.

What is the plate tectonic theory GCSE?

The theory of plate tectonics The crust is the solid rock layer upon which we live. The earth’s crust is broken into plates. It was once believed that convection currents in the mantle slowly moved the crust around. It is now thought that a mechanism called slab pull drives the movement of tectonic plates.

How do tectonic plates move GCSE geography?

Plates are extremely heavy so gravity acts upon them, pulling them apart. Alternatively, as shown in the diagram, convection currents under the Earth’s crust transfer heat, which rises through the surface and cools back down in a circular motion. The convection currents move the plates.

What causes tectonic plates to move?

The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior causes the plates to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other. This movement is called plate motion, or tectonic shift.

What cause tectonic plates to move?

Which is the thinnest layer of the Earth?

crust
Discuss with the whole class what the relative thicknesses of the layers are — that the inner core and outer core together form the thickest layer of the Earth and that the crust is by far the thinnest layer.

Can we see tectonic plates?

Iceland sits on the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. It is the only place in the world where you can see those two tectonic plates and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above ground.

How are mantle and crust broken into tectonic plates?

The crust and upper part of the mantle are broken into tectonic plates. German scientist Alfred Wegener developed the theory of continental drift to explain how mountains were formed. The Earth’s crust and upper part of the mantle are broken into large pieces called tectonic plates. These are constantly moving at a few centimetres each year.

Which is the best description of plate tectonics?

The movement of the plates, and the activity inside the Earth, is described as the theory of plate tectonics.

What happens when two plates meet on a plate?

Plate tectonics cause earthquakes and volcanoes. The point where two plates meet is called a plate boundary . Earthquakes and volcanoes are most likely to occur either on or near plate boundaries.

How is the lithosphere split into tectonic plates?

The lithosphere is split into tectonic plates. The crust is the outer layer of the Earth. It is the solid rock layer upon which we live. It is either continental or oceanic. Continental crust is typically 30-50 kilometres thick, whilst oceanic crust is only five to ten kilometres thick.