Plate Tectonics Flashcards
What does a plate tectonic mean?
large, moving plates of solid rock.
There are 8 plates, name them.
- North American plate
- South American plate
- African plate
- Eurasian plate
- Indo-australian plate
- Pacific plate
- Antarctic plate
- Nazca plate
Give 2 examples of separating plate boundaries
- Indo australian plate
- Antarctic plate
Give 2 examples of colliding plate boundaries
- Pacific plate
- Eurasian plate
Give 2 examples of sliding plate boundaries
- North American plate
- Pacific plate
What is a separating plate?
When two plates move apart, magma comes up to fill the space. The magma cools and turns into new crust. This can create volcanic islands, mountains, and ridges in the ocean. A good example is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart.
What are colliding plates?
When plates crash into each other, the crust breaks. If an ocean plate hits a land plate, the heavier ocean plate goes underneath and melts. This can make the land plate bend and create mountains. A good example is where the Nazca and South American plates meet.
What is a sliding plate?
When two plates slide past each other, their edges can get stuck. As pressure builds up, one plate can suddenly move, causing an earthquake. This happens along the San Andreas Fault in North America, where the Pacific and American plates slide against each other.
What is a sliding plate?
When two plates slide past each other, their edges can get stuck. As pressure builds up, one plate can suddenly move, causing an earthquake. This happens along the San Andreas Fault in North America, where the Pacific and American plates slide against each other.
Where are mid ocean ridges found?
Mid ocean ridges can be found in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
What is the pacific ring of fire?
The Pacific ring of fire is a horseshoe shaped area containing many plate boundaries
