Lithospheric Plates and Forces of the Earth

Lithospheric Plates

• The lithosphere is divided into numerous plates called lithospheric plates
• These plates move slowly, a few millimeters per year
• This movement is due to the movement of molten magma within the Earth
• The movement of these plates causes changes on Earth's surface

Endogenic Forces

• Forces acting within the Earth's interior
• Include earthquakes and volcanoes
• Earthquakes cause sudden movements, and volcanoes cause mass destruction

Exogenic Forces

• Forces working on Earth's surface
• Examples include erosion and weathering
• They are responsible for the continuous wearing away of landscapes

Volcanoes

• A volcano is an opening in the Earth's crust where molten material erupts
• Molten material is called magma, and gases and ash are also released

Earthquakes

• Vibrations that travel all around the Earth
• The place where the movement starts is the focus
• The place on the surface above the focus is the epicentre
• Earthquakes are measured using a seismograph on the Richter scale

Weathering

• The breaking down of rocks on the Earth's surface
• This occurs due to different agents, like water, wind, and ice

Erosion

• The wearing away of the landscape
• Eroded material is carried by water, wind, or ice

River Work

• Rivers erode landscapes and create different landforms
• Meanders form when rivers twist and turn, and cut-off lakes (oxbow lakes) form
• Waterfalls and erosion features depend on the hardness of the rocks

Sea Waves

• Coastal landforms arise from the erosion and deposition of sea waves
• Sea caves, stacks, and arches are formed by waves striking the rocks
• The sea waves deposit sediments along the coast, creating beaches

Work of Ice

• Glaciers erode landscapes by carrying and depositing sediments
• These deposited sediments are called glacial moraines.

Work of Wind

• Wind is an erosional agent in deserts
• Wind erosion creates different features such as mushroom rocks and sand dunes
• Wind deposits in large areas is called loess

Landforms

• Landforms are shapes of the Earth's surface that result from forces at work on the Earth's crust
• Different processes create different landforms, like rivers, glaciers, sea, and wind

Explore the dynamics of lithospheric plates and the forces that shape our planet. This quiz covers both endogenic forces like earthquakes and volcanoes, and exogenic forces such as erosion and weathering. Test your knowledge about Earth's internal and surface processes.