Students learn the structure and composition of oceanic and continental crust and the theory of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics i grades 9 overview unifying concepts and lesson introduces students to geological oceanography by presenting the basic structure of the earth and the properties of arths primary layers. We reference it almost daily hammering home where the boundaries are, how they interact, and what happens when they move in various ways. First, the topography of the ocean floor was mapped in great detail during and after world war ii. This theory provides a framework for understanding geological history.
Plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains the past and current crustal movements at the earths surface. Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that attempts to explain the movements of the earths lithosphere that have formed the landscape features we see across the globe today. Since plate tectonics is able to explain all these things, and these things happen under the plate tectonic theory of plates in the earth moving around, its called a unifying theory or a paradigm. It explains why the oceanic lithosphere is never older than about 180 ma and why only. Plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology, the framework into which are fitted all other explanations of largescale geological phenomena. Plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains the past and current movements of the rocks at earths surface and provides a framework for understanding its geologic history. The hypothesis of continental drift was based on considerable geologic. Plate tectonics is the grand, unifying theory of earth sciences, combining the concepts of continental drift and seafloor spreading into one holistic theory that explains many of the major structural features of the earths surface. The plates act like a hard and rigid shell compared to earths mantle. Earths geography has changed through time and continues to change today. When two plates come together, one plate is pushed or pulled under the other plate, triggering large earthquakes such as the one that shook india in 2001, iran in 2003, and pakistan in 2005. With seafloor spreading, the continents and oceanic crust move together as part of large plates. An insiders history of the modern theory of the earth naomi oreskes, homer eugene legrand download bok.
Plate tectonics plate tectonics is a unifying theory that states that. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. You will receive your score and answers at the end. L1 advanced readers plate motions point out that the arrows in figure 20 show the direction of plate motion. Discover in this accessible and authoritative introduction the fundamental theory of how our dynamic planet works written by the celebrated geologist, academic and popular science presenter iain stewart, plate tectonics explores the earth as a planetary machine and investigates the people and ideas that changed the way we look at the world. The unifying theory continental drift seafloor spreading plate subduction transform faulting types of plate boundaries divergent plates moving apart oceanic. A good way to have a variety of lessonrelated activities in groups. Plate tectonicsthe unifying theory of geology geology. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every aspect of. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth. Following guidance from the white house, centers for disease control and prevention, and state and local public health authorities, we are. Plate tectonic theory is the unifying theory of geology.
The unifying theory continental drift large scale movement of continents eduard suess austrian geologist gondwanaland alfred wegener 1915 german meteorologist recovering from wwi wounds wrote a book in hospital pangea. In 1912, wegener noticed that the coastlines of the east coast of south america and the west. This includes the formation, movement, collision and destruction of plates and the resulting geological events such as seismicity, volcanism, continental drift, and. They are part of the dynamic interactions involving earths plates. Alfred wegener and continental drift it was not until 1912 that the idea of moving continents was seriously considered as a fullblown scientific theory called continental drift introduced in two articles published by a 32yearold german meteorologist named alfred lothar wegener alfred lothar wegener 18801930 earned a. The plate tectonic paradigm the unifying theory of geology has just turned 50. Plate tectonics is the geological theory that states that pieces of earths lithosphere are in constant, slow motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle. Two scientific advances in the mid20th century resulted in information critical to acceptance of continental drift and plate tectonic theory. Along spreading centers in the sea floor, melted rock rises through cracks, cools, and. Plate tectonics and largescale system interactions. Plate tectonics this is the plate tectonics differentiation stations. Plate movements are responsible for most continental and oceanfloor features and for the distribution of most.
Plate tectonics is a unifying theory that states that the earth is composed of lithospheric crustal plates that move slowly, change size, and interact with one another. Nothing is permanent, even if it is sometimes presented to us in the form of an ancient rock. The theory of plate tectonics explains how plates and their continents move. By definition, the word plate in geologic terms means a large slab of solid rock. We reference it almost daily hammering home where the boundaries are, how they interact, and what happens when they move in. Plate tectonics plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology and revolutionized geology cornerstone of earthsystem approach. Teaching plate tectonics with easytodraw illustrations is fun and effective. Plate tectonics is a relatively new, wellsupported scientific theory that helps explain earths landforms, catastrophic events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and other.
The theory of plate tectonics explains the formation, movement, and subduction of earths. What are the limitations of the plate tectonic theory. Unifying theory of geology class earth science erratics. Chapter 1 plate tectonics power point linkedin slideshare. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the earth move and deform.
April 2003 website and downloadable pdf file available at. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. Early maps showing the similarity between the east coast of south america and the west coast of africa provided people with the first evidence that the continents may once have been united and subsequently split apart. History of plate tectonics plate tectonic theory had its beginnings in 1915 when alfred wegener proposed his theory of continental drift. It affects all of us because it explains where and why such natural disasters as earthquakes. This unit engages students in an indepth, studentdirected investigation and several guided inquiries to discover, test, and use the theory of plate tectonics. This movement affects subduction, sea floor spreading, volcanic activity, mountain building, and other geological phenomenon. Pdf on sep 15, 1994, charles musarurwa and others published plate tectonics. Mar 21, 2020 plate tectonics, theory dealing with the dynamics of earths outer shell that revolutionized earth sciences by providing a uniform context for understanding mountainbuilding processes, volcanoes, and earthquakes as well as the evolution of earths surface and reconstructing its past continents and oceans. This new theory of largescale change on the earth is known as plate tectonics. Plate tectonicsthe unifying theory of geology geology u. The unifying theory this paper contains 20pages plate tectonics. In 2017, the geological society of londons william smith meeting celebrated this historical occasion, perhaps with a touch of selfcongratulation, but with little discussion of alternative ideas.
While the lateral extent of modern plate can be easily defined by earthquake activity, its thickness is not physically defined. Continental rift convergent plates moving toward one another oceanic. Plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology and has revolutionized geology. Plate tectonics the unifying concept of the earth sciences. Plate tectonics map of the world, showing plates, boundaries, boundary types and more. Plate tectonics plate tectonics, earth science lessons, 6th.
This theory was amalgamated from a variety of studies that began in the early 20th century and culminated in the 1960s. Along spreading centers in the sea floor, melted rock rises through cracks, cools, and forms new crust that builds up midocean ridges. Jan 23, 2020 plate tectonics is the scientific theory that attempts to explain the movements of the earths lithosphere that have formed the landscape features we see across the globe today. It tells how the surface of the earth is formed and changes. If the idea of plate tectonics is the unifying theory of the science of geology, then this mapping activity is the unifying assignment of high school earth science. Plate tectonics is the theory that the surface of the earth is broken into larger pieces of crust called plates that ride along on a softer layer of the earth, known as the asthenosphere, which is the upper part of the mantle.
The theory of plate tectonics proposes that the lithosphere is divided into a series of plates that fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Wegeners theory and sea floor maps were used to develop the theory of plate tectonics. The glaciations on the gondwana continents could only have occurred if the continents were joined since the centers of the glaciers would have been in the ocean if they were not. The hypothesis of continental drift was based on considerable. Three types of plate boundaries are recognized divergent convergent transform boundaries are zones of earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology considerable geologic, paleontology, and climatologic evidence is used to support the theory interior processes are involved in plate. Central to the theory of plate tectonics is the concept of internal rigidity of tectonic plates together with eulers theo rem, which allows us to model the relative motion of plates. A unifying theory it is just as if we were to refit the torn pieces of a newspaper by matching their edges and. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Then have them reread to identify observations that the theory of plate tectonics explains.
Plate tectonics conclusion plate tectonics is the grand, unifying theory of earth sciences, combining the concepts of continental drift and seafloor spreading into one holistic theory that explains many of the major structural features of the earths surface. Observations that led to the development of plate tectonic theory. Although plate tectonics is a relatively young idea in comparison with unifying theories from other sciences e. Plate tectonics have students team read pages 158 and 159 to. Plate tectonics theory, diagrams, boundaries geology. A unifying theory it is just as if we were to refit the torn pieces of a. Sep 17, 2009 the theory of plate tectonics explains how plates and their continents move. What were the major lines of evidence for continental drift as presented by wegener in the early 20th century. Wegener proposed that the continents plowed through crust of ocean basins, which would explain why the outlines of many coastlines like south america and africa look like they fit together like a puzzle.
This strong outer layer is called the lithosphere, which is 100 km 60 miles thick. Plate tectonics plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology. The theory of plate tectonics helps explain the locations of. Plate tectonics grew out of a theory that was first developed in the early 20th century by the meteorologist alfred wegener. These slabs are called tectonic plates and fit together like pieces to a puzzle. New departures in structural geology and tectonics a white paper resulting from a workshop held at denver colorado, september 22nd and 23rd, 2002 sponsored by the tectonics program, earth sciences division, and national science foundation geoear. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
Science classroom plate tectonics 27 ideas for 2019 browse over educational resources created by the stem center in the official teachers pay teachers store. May 21, 2012 if the idea of plate tectonics is the unifying theory of the science of geology, then this mapping activity is the unifying assignment of high school earth science. Plate tectonics is considered a unifying theory, or a paradigm, because it describes how the earths plates move around. Early maps showing the similarity between the east coast of south america and the west coast of africa provided people with the first evidence that the continents may. Plate tectonics is a unifying theory that states that the earth is composed of lithospheric crustal plates that move slowly, change size, and interact with one. We live on a layer of earth known as the lithosphere which is a collection of rigid slabs that are shifting and sliding into each other.
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