Continental drift refers to the movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other

 The Theory

 Web sites that will explain the theory to you!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_drift

http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pangaea/

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Check out the really cool animation of the theory here

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/anim1.html

http://www.historyoftheuniverse.com/condrift.html

Plates

Plate tectonics is a relatively new theory that has revolutionized the way geologists think about the Earth. According to the theory, the surface of the Earth is broken into large plates. The size and position of these plates change over time. The edges of these plates, where they move against each other, are sites of intense geologic activity, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building. Plate tectonics is a combination of two earlier ideas, continental drift and sea-floor spreading. Continental drift is the movement of continents over the Earth's surface and in their change in position relative to each other. Sea-floor spreading is the creation of new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges and movement of the crust away from the mid-ocean ridges.

Layers of the Earth

Location of the Plates

Clues:

What are they?

Where are they?

What is your opinion of the theory?

 TYPES OF PLATE MOVEMENT: Divergence, Convergence, and Lateral SlippingAt the boundaries of the plates, various deformations occur as the plates interact; they separate from one another (seafloor spreading), collide (forming mountain ranges), slip past one another (subduction zones, in which plates undergo destruction and remelting), and slip laterally.

Google Earth and Plate tectonics

Earthquake! USGS & Google Earth

A multimedia introduction to Plate Tectonics & Earth movement

Either download the file below or go to http://bbweb.acalanes.k12.ca.us/bbcswebdav/institution/MHSwebsite/google/gUSGSEarthquake.pdf

 

gUSGSEarthquake.pdf   

 

Divergent Plate Movement: Seafloor Spreading Seafloor spreading is the movement of two oceanic plates away from each other (at a divergent plate boundary), which results in the formation of new oceanic crust (from magma that comes from within the Earth's mantle) along a a mid-ocean ridge. Where the oceanic plates are moving away from each other is called a zone of divergence. Ocean floor spreading was first suggested by Harry Hess and Robert Dietz in the 1960's.

Convergent Plate Movement: When two plates collide (at a convergent plate boundary), some crust is destroyed in the impact and the plates become smaller. The results differ, depending upon what types of plates are involved.    Oceanic Plate and Continental Plate - When a thin, dense oceanic plate collides with a relatively light, thick continental plate, the oceanic plate is forced under the continental plate; this phenomenon is called subduction.    Two Oceanic Plates - When two oceanic plates collide, one may be pushed under the other and magma from the mantle rises, forming volcanoes in the vicinity.    Two Continental Plates - When two continental plates collide, mountain ranges are created as the colliding crust is compressed and pushed upwards.

Lateral Slipping Plate Movement: When two plates move sideways against each other (at a transform plate boundary), there is a tremendous amount of friction which makes the movement jerky. The plates slip, then stick as the friction and pressure build up to incredible levels. When the pressure is released suddenly, and the plates suddenly jerk apart, this is an earthquake.     Below is a copy of the assignment sheet handed out in Science class>   Pangae 225 Million years agao Past 135 million years Present Day location Fututre 100 Million years from now 14.5 cm       blue continents             gold continents peach continents green continents 14.5                       Explain the 4 pieces of evidence we have found 1. 2. 3. 4.                     Explain the 3 pieces of evidence that Hess found 1. 2. 3. Write an explanation of what causes continential drift Explain your theory of the future and why you think the continents will move that way.     Click here to go back to the Interactive Lesson Page