Plate tectonics interactive notebook pages by kesler. Against plate tectonics on earth the plate tectonics theory. Wegener died in 1930 on an expedition in greenland. In platetectonic theory, it is called the asthenosphere, which is the. Plate tectonics is the theory that explains how large pieces of the earths outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape. Plate tectonics scavenger hunt by brilliant classes. The theory of plate tectonics geology lumen learning. Scientists believe in the plate tectonics theory because of the following pieces of evidence. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics.
Locations of earthquakes and volcanoes show the plate boundaries and ocean floor features. The idea that continents may have originally occupied different positions was not a new one box 1, but wegener was the first to present the evidence in a diligent and scientific manner. List and describe the evidence for the plate tectonics theory. The incredible ibex defies gravity and climbs a dam forces of nature with brian cox bbc duration. According to the theory, what causes the plates to move.
Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth. Initiation and evolution of plate tectonics on earth. The currents would be at parts parallel to giant plates on the surface and carry them. One of the most important contributions to the development of plate tectonic theory was alfred wegeners 1915 publication of the origin of continents and oceans which outlined his theory of continental drift. Evidence of the dynamic changes of earths surface through time is found in the. Gps data confirm that the plates are approximately rigid, with little relative motion in their interiors. It is theorized that the hotter rock closer to the core rises while the cooler rock sinks causing a current in the form of a cycle.
The lithosphere is broken up into seven very large continental and oceansized plates, six or seven mediumsized regional. Earths geography has changed through time and continues to change today. He suggested that continents moved around the earth like giant rafts. To explain the theory of plate tectonics and present the information in a creative format. It has survived from the 1970s until today in various forms and presentations. But without detailed evidence and a force sufficient to drive the movement, the theory was not generally ac cepted. The earth is the only planet known to currently have plate tectonics. Plate tectonics and plate tectonics interactive notebook activities. Diverge means to move in different directions from a common point. Continental drift theory and alfred wegener pangea all land mass wegeners evidence for continental drift. Poorly respected in his lifetime, wegener and his ideas about moving continents seemed destined to be lost in history as fringe science.
Theory of plate tectonics reinforcement free pdf file. Discuss some of the early evidence for continental drift and alfred wegeners role in promoting this theory. Gather, analyze, and communicate data that explains earths plates, plate motions, and the results of plate motions dok 12 d. Exploring evidence of plate tectonics using geomapapp. Plate tectonics theory, convection currents and seafloor spreading. As the tectonic plates move away from spreading zones, they collide with one another. The german meteorologist alfred wegener 18801930 is largely credited with establishing the fundamentals of the theory that we now call plate tectonics. Students investigate plate tectonic environments convergent, divergent, transform boundaries, topographybathymetry of. A plate tectonic puzzle american museum of natural history. Create a piece of art model, sculpture, painting, drawing on plate tectonics and include a 5 paragraph explanation of your art. Analyze the evidence that lithospheric plate movements occur.
This significant discrepancy is taken as evidence that the continental. The plate tectonics theory tries to explain the movement of the earths lithosphere. Plume tectonics is a geoscientific theory that finds its roots in the mantle doming concept which was especially popular during the 1930s and initially did not accept major plate movements and continental drifting. It is a very well supported theory, and while scientific debate continues about small parts or local effects, the overall concept is accepted as good as fact. This activity requires students to explore a range of datasets that help substantiate plate tectonic theory. The motion in the mantle the asthenosphere is caused by convection currents. Chapter 3 plate tectonics topic the theory of plate. As they spread apart, magma comes to the surface and becomes new continental crust. Fellow scientists at the time thought the theory was ludicrous. Lithosphere is divided into plates that slide around on top of the slowly moving mesosphere tectonic plates it occurred after. Pdf geological evidence for the operation of plate tectonics. This pdfversion was edited by peter lindeberg in december 2001. Be able to discuss the evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics including seafloor spreading and paleomagnetism. Plate tectonics although ridiculed at first, wegners theory on continental drift was supported by evidence decades after his death and led to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, or the movement of the earths crust.
Theory of continental drift is the idea that the continents have moved horizontally to their current locations. Some life rode on diverging plates, became isolated, and evolved into new species. Movement is caused by convection currents in the mantle 15. It has the power to explain many phenomena, such as volcanoes and earthquakes. Plate tectonic theory arose out of the hypothesis of continental drift proposed by alfred. It has slowly evolved into a concept that recognises and accepts large scale plate motions such as. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every aspect of. According to the theory, earth has a rigid outer layer, known as the lithosphere, which is typically about 100 km 60 miles thick and overlies a plastic moldable, partially molten layer called the asthenosphere. Plate tectonics theory, convection currents and seafloor. Evidence for plate tectonics the evidence for plate tectonics is very conclusive.
Common core, ngss, and ca science standards for lesson 5. Topics include a history of the theory, scientific developments that spurred its development, the mechanics of plate motions, and the relationship of hotspots to plate tectonic. The earths crust is broken into a dozen or so large plates that move over the earth interacting in. Most of the plates are composed of continental and oceanic lithosphere.
This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape against each other. Continental drift evidence for continental drift a. Lithosphere is divided into plates that slide around on top of the slowly moving mesosphere tectonic plates it occurred after the breakup of pangaea, and since then the continents. The plates are mobile, moving in constant, slow motion measured in rates of centimeters per year.
Evidence from fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. The earths surface is made up of a series of large plates that can travel up to 2 or 3 cm per year. The basic idea behind plate tectonics is that there are eight major plates on the surface of the earth. Use webbased or other technology tools to show connections and patterns in data about tectonic plate boundaries and earthquakes. Who proposed the theory and what evidence did he provide to prove his theory. Because of the strength and rigidity of oceanic plates, deformation is focused into narrow linear zones along plate. Critique and interpret major types of evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics. Plate tectonic note taking answers free pdf file sharing. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the earth move and deform. Explain the process that causes the earths tectonic plates to move. Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of earth structures or tectonic features. Wegener supported his argument with five lines of evidence.
According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct plates which are floating on a ductile layer called asthenosphere upper part of the mantle. One of the biggest questions in geosciences today is when did plate tectonics begin on earth with a wide range of theories based on an equally diverse set of. Geological archive of the onset of plate tectonics ncbi. What are three pieces of evidence that support the existence of pangaea, hence support the continental drift theory. We now know that, directly or indirectly, plate tectonics influences nearly. The structure of the earth, plate tectonics and landforms. Plate tectonics introduction learning objectives after carefully reading this chapter, completing the exercises within it, and answering the questions at the end, you should be able to.
Plate tectonics, involving a globally linked system of lateral motion of. The theory of plate tectonics links earths internal processes to the distribution of continents and oceans. Convection currents beneath the plates drive the plates in different directions. Since the 1990s direct evidence for the slow drift of all continental landmasses has been available from gps satellite geodesy data. The concept of plate tectonics was formulated in the 1960s. As ideas concerning plate tectonics have evolved since the 1970s, it has become apparent that while the theory can be applied rigorously to the oceans, the same cannot be said of the continents. Plate tectonics reveals that the lithosphere is divided into eight major pieces plates with several smaller plates fig. But without detailed evidence and a force sufficient to drive the movement, the theory was. The theory of plate tectonics guided reading and study use target reading skills possible answers.
The theory provides a working model for analyses of phenomena that scientists observe. Crust mantle core crust lithosphere plate movement the crust is broken into plates that move. Fossils tell us when and where plants and animals once existed. Alfred wegener, a german meteorologist born in 1880, developed the idea of continental drift. Describe the type of plate boundary that forms mountains and islands. Earths crust is divided into two major layers, the lithosphere at the top and the asthenosphere right below it. When we say constantly moving, were talking centimeters each year. The earths crust is broken into about 15 large plates that move around on the surface of earth. First, the age of the crust is youngest at the plate boundaries where older rock is pushed up and the. Plate tectonics is the most important concept in modern geology. Exploring evidence of plate tectonics using geomapapp sean cornell, shippensburg university of pennsylvania this activity requires students to explore a range of datasets that help substantiate plate tectonic theory.
What evidence do we have for plate tectonics is part of the geobus geology in a minute series. The basic theory of plate tectonics is that along seafloor spreading zones, the continents are separating from one another. Plate tectonics the earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions. Central to the theory of plate tectonics is the concept of. What is some evidence for the plate tectonics theory. Plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology and revolutionized. This video was produced by rasa juras, an undergraduate at the university of st andrews for the. Time frame two class periods 40 minutes each materials. Plate tectonics is the unifying theory of the earth how did the theory develop.
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