Plate Tectonics

Earth's Layers

Crust: The thin, outermost layer where we live. It's divided into continental crust (land) and oceanic crust (under the oceans).

Mantle: Semi-solid layer that causes plates to move.
The movement of the mantle causes tectonic plates to move.

Outer Core: Liquid metal-- creates Earth's magnetic field. It's extremely hot, with temperatures ranging from 4,000-6000c.

Inner Core: Solid iron and nickel. The Inner Core is about as hot as the surface of the sun!

What are Tectonic Plates?

The largest plate is the Pacific Plate.

​Fun Fact

Earth's crust is broken into large pieces called Tectonic Plates.



Plates float on the mantle and move about 1 inch per year.

Divergent: Plates move apart.(Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

Convergent: Plates collide.
(Mount Everest)

Transform: Plates slide past each other. (San Andreas Fault)

Plate Boundaries

Effects of
Plate Movement

Caused by transform boundaries.

​Earthquakes

Often found at convergent boundaries.

​​Volcanoes

​Happens when plates collide.

​Mountain Formation