Middle School Earth and Space Science explores the dynamic systems of our planet and the universe, fostering curiosity about geology, meteorology, astronomy, and environmental science.
Earth's outer shell, the lithosphere, is broken into giant slabs called tectonic plates. These plates move slowly over the mantle, causing earthquakes, volcanoes, and the creation of mountains.
Tectonic plates move because of convection currents in the mantle. They can:
When plates collide, they can push up mountains or cause earthquakes. When they move apart, new crust forms, like at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Plate tectonics explain why continents move and why natural hazards occur.
Living near a plate boundary can mean more earthquakes or volcanoes.
The Himalayas formed from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
The San Andreas Fault in California is a transform boundary.
Moving plates shape Earth's surface and cause natural events like earthquakes.