Plate tectonics

Definition

Plate tectonics describes the movement and interaction of large plates that make up Earth's outer shell. These movements shape the planet's surface and are responsible for many geological phenomena.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Earth's crust is divided into several major and minor tectonic plates.
2. Plate movements are driven by forces such as mantle convection, gravity, and Earth's rotation.
3. Major geological events like earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation occur at plate boundaries.
4. There are three types of plate boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform.
5. The concept of plate tectonics helps explain the distribution of continents and ocean basins over geological time.

Review Questions

• What are the primary forces driving the movement of tectonic plates?
• How do divergent plate boundaries differ from convergent plate boundaries?
• Why is the study of plate tectonics important for understanding Earth's geological history?

Related terms

Mantle Convection:

A process where heat from Earth's interior causes mantle material to move in a circular pattern, driving plate movements

Subduction Zone: A region where one tectonic plate moves under another, often causing earthquakes and volcanic activity

Seafloor Spreading:

The process by which new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward