Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the composition of the continental crust?
What is the composition of the continental crust?
What causes the movement of tectonic plates?
What causes the movement of tectonic plates?
What is the lithosphere composed of?
What is the lithosphere composed of?
What lies at the center of the Earth?
What lies at the center of the Earth?
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What are tectonic plates?
What are tectonic plates?
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What is the range of sizes for the major tectonic plates?
What is the range of sizes for the major tectonic plates?
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Which tectonic plate is responsible for creating the Himalayas?
Which tectonic plate is responsible for creating the Himalayas?
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What does the Pacific Plate's collision with surrounding plates create?
What does the Pacific Plate's collision with surrounding plates create?
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Where does the boundary of the African Plate extend into?
Where does the boundary of the African Plate extend into?
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What was a key piece in explaining tectonic plates and their movement?
What was a key piece in explaining tectonic plates and their movement?
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What is the 'Roof of the World' believed to be a result of?
What is the 'Roof of the World' believed to be a result of?
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What evidence supports the theory that tectonic plates move and change their locations?
What evidence supports the theory that tectonic plates move and change their locations?
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Which plate is not listed as one of the minor tectonic plates?
Which plate is not listed as one of the minor tectonic plates?
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Where is the Cocos Plate located?
Where is the Cocos Plate located?
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Which plate holds part of South Asia and is one of the minor tectonic plates?
Which plate holds part of South Asia and is one of the minor tectonic plates?
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Study Notes
- Theory of Plate Tectonics: based on data such as earthquake and volcano locations, rock and fossil ages
- 7 major tectonic plates identified: Pacific, North American, Eurasian, African, Antarctic, Indo-Australian, South American
- Each plate named after what lies above it (e.g., North America on North American Plate)
- 8 minor plates exist, much smaller in size
- Major plates range in size from 58.9 to 103.3 million kilometers squared
- Thickness of tectonic plates: 15 km to 200 km, thinnest new oceanic crust, thickest mountainous continental crust
- Pacific Plate: largest, covers Pacific Ocean, collides with surrounding plates, creates 'The Ring of Fire' and Mariana Trench
- North American Plate: beneath North America, Greenland, and part of Iceland, geologically active, created Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Andes Mountains
- Eurasian Plate: third largest, holds Europe and Asia, created Himalayas, boundary lies across Mid-Atlantic Ridge from North American Plate
- African Plate: fourth largest, encompasses Africa, boundary extends into Atlantic and Indian Oceans
- Mid-Atlantic Ridge: mostly underwater mountain range, creates new crust, forms boundary between many major tectonic plates
- Discovery of Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the 1950s was a key piece in explaining tectonic plates and their movement.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the formation and composition of Planet Earth's layers, including the core, mantle, and crust, as well as the characteristics of oceanic and continental crust.
