Plate Tectonics - Earthquakes & Volcanoes
What is plate tectonics?
What is the structure of the earth?
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What is below our feet?
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The earth is made up of 4 different layers:
1. The crust - This is the layer we live on. It is the thinnest layer and is mainly rock, 2. The mantle - This is the largest layer and is made up of semi solid rock. (This is solid but can move like a liquid) 3. The outer core - This is molten metal primarily iron and nickel. 4. The inner core - This is made of solid metal again primarily iron and nickel. DK find out - earth's structure quiz |
Song to help you to remember the 4 layers.
Continental drift
Alfred Wegener a German Geophysicist developed a theory of 'Continental drift', proposing that the continents were once all joined together and then began drifting apart. Sadly he died in 1930 without his theory being accepted. Two decades later scientists discovered sufficient evidence to prove his theory.
The world 250 million years ago
The 7 continents were joined in one giant supercontinent called Pangaea. It then began to break up!
Changes over the last 250 million years
Click here to discover more about continental drift.
Test Yourself - Plate tectonics
Here's hoopshoot game on plate
tectonics
tectonics
Where do earthquakes happen around the world?
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This video shows all of the the earthquakes which have taken place over a 15 year time period. Most earthquakes occur in 3 main locations.
1. Near plate boundaries. 2. Around the 'Pacific ring of fire'. 3. Around hot spots such as Hawaii. Earthquakes quiz |