Movement of the Earth’s CrustFocus: The student can explain the causes and

effects of processes that shape the planet Earth.

Prior Knowledge

Lithosphere

The outer solid part of the Earth.

Lithosphere• Includes the continental and oceanic

crust.• Is brittle and rigid.

1. All life on Earth is found on or within the lithosphere.

Lithosphere

LithosphereContinental Crust Oceanic Crust• Found under the

continents.• Less dense (lighter)

than oceanic crust.• Older rocks than

oceanic crust• Thicker than oceanic

crust.

• Found under the oceans.• More dense (heavier)

than continental crust.• Younger rocks than

continental crust• Thinner than

continental crust.

Mr. Goss

Prior Knowledge

Asthenosphere

The ductile(bendable) part of the Earth below

the lithosphere.

Asthenosphere• Is plastic like.• Slowly flows beneath the

lithosphere.

1. The lithosphere floats on the asthenosphere.

Prior Knowledge

Tectonic Plates

The large areas that the lithosphere is broken up

into.

Tectonic Plates1. There are seven or eight major plates (depending on how they are defined) and many minor plates.

2. Where plates meet and their relative motion determines the type of boundary between the plates.

Tectonic Plates

Prior Knowledge

Theory of Plate Tectonics

The lithosphere is broken into huge thick plates that drift atop

the asthenosphere.

Theory of Plate Tectonics• Is caused by The movement of the

molten mantle with the hotter material rising and the cooler material falling. This process is called convection.

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Prior Knowledge

Plate Boundary

The point where two tectonic plates meet.

Plate Boundary• Can be divergent, convergent, or

transform boundaries.

• Are usually the sites of volcanic and earthquake activity.

Plate Boundary

Plate BoundariesDivergent Convergent Transform

• Occur where plates are moving away from each other.

• Are where rift valleys form on continental plates.

• Is where mid-ocean ridges are formed.

• Occur where plates are moving towards each other.

• Mountains, volcanoes, and oceanic trenches can form at this boundary.

• Are categorized by the type of plates that converge(continental or oceanic).

• Occur where two plates are sliding past each other.

• Are also known as strike-slip faults.

Types of Convergent Boundaries

Oceanic/Continental• The denser

oceanic plate subducts(goes under) the continental crust.

• Mountains and volcanoes can form on the continental crust.

• A trench (deep fissure) forms where the two plates collide.

Oceanic/Oceanic Continental/Continental

• One plate descends beneath the other plate because it is denser.

• Volcanic islands can be formed near the boundary.

• A deep trench forms where the two plates collide.

• Plates collide but one does not subduct under the other.

• Mountain ranges form.

Types of Divergent Boundaries

Oceanic/Oceanic Continental/Continental

• The sea floor spreads creating new crust.

• Mountain ranges called a mid ocean ridge are formed.

• The rock is younger near the ridge and gets older as you move away from the ridge.

• A low area called a rift valley is formed when the area between two highlands or mountain ranges sinks.