What is plate tectonic theory?

Question 1

Convection currents explained to be similar to a radiator

Answer 1

The hot radiator warms up the air around it. The warm air rises. When it hits the ceiling, the warm air spreads out. After a while, the air starts to get colder again. Because it’s colder, the air sinks down to the floor. Something needs to replace the warm air that is rising up, so the radiator pulls cold air in.

Question 2

How is the earths core a radiator?

Answer 2

The magma is the air and the crust is the ceiling.

Question 3

What happens in the earths core?

Answer 3

The core provides heat to the magma in the mantle. The warmer areas of magma rise up to the surface, creating new crust. Under the crust, it starts to spread out. The magma starts to cool down too. The magma is now cold enough to sink back down to the core.

Question 4

What is plate tectonics theory?

Answer 4

The scientific theory that attempts to explain why the earths crust acts the way it does and produces the landforms we can see on the earths surface.

Question 5

Who and when was the plate tectonics theory developed?

Answer 5

Alfred Wegener a meteorologist developed the theory in the early 20th century.