How do the Earth's plates move?

This lesson will look at how the Earth's plates move by convection currents, slab pull and ridge push.

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Q1.Earth's crust is..

One big piece of solid rock that forms the outermost layer of the Earth. Broken into large pieces of solid rock called tectonic plates. The solid layer at the centre of the Earth.

1/5

Q2.A plate boundary is...

Where two plates meet. The middle of a tectonic plate. Large pieces or 'slabs' of rock that form the Earth's crust.

2/5

Q3.Volcanoes and earthquakes are mostly found...

In linear belts where two plates meet. In the middle of tectonic plates.

3/5

Q4.As you go from the centre of the Atlantic Ocean towards the edges, the age of the oceanic crust...

Increases. Decreases. Is all the same age.

4/5

Q5.Pangaea is the...

Name of a oceanic ridge formed when semi-molten rock (magma) erupts to the surface. Name of a scientist who discovered that the tectonic plates move. Name of the supercontinent where all of Earth's land masses were once stuck together. An ancient type of fossil that can be found across different continents.

5/5

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Q1.Earth's crust is..

One big piece of solid rock that forms the outermost layer of the Earth. Broken into large pieces of solid rock called tectonic plates. The solid layer at the centre of the Earth.

1/5

Q2.A plate boundary is...

Where two plates meet. The middle of a tectonic plate. Large pieces or 'slabs' of rock that form the Earth's crust.

2/5

Q3.Volcanoes and earthquakes are mostly found...

In linear belts where two plates meet. In the middle of tectonic plates.

3/5

Q4.As you go from the centre of the Atlantic Ocean towards the edges, the age of the oceanic crust...

Increases. Decreases. Is all the same age.

4/5

Q5.Pangaea is the...

5/5

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This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

How do the Earth's tectonic plates move?

Don’t worry if you get a question wrong! Forgetting is an important step in learning. We will recap next lesson.

Q1.Convection currents are...

Currents caused by the core cooling the semi-molten rock in the mantle and causing it to rise. Currents in the Earth’s mantle which rise from the Earth’s core and move the tectonic plates. Currents in the Earth's crust that cause the tectonic plates to move.

1/5

Q2.As the rock in the lower mantle heats up and melts it expands which means that...

It becomes less dense (lighter) so it rises. It becomes denser (heavier) so it falls. It stays the same density and so does not rise or fall.

2/5

Q3.Convection currents cause the tectonic plates to move because...

The semi-molten rock is thick and viscous and so sticks to the bottom of the tectonic plate. The semi-molten rock is thin and runny and so sticks to the bottom of the tectonic plate.

3/5

Q4.Ridge push happens...

Between two rising convection cells when the semi-molten rock rises and pushes up between two tectonic plates pushing them apart. Where the semi-molten rock starts to fall back down and the heavy oceanic plate plunges down into the mantle. When the core heats the semi-molten rock in the mantle causing it to rise. When two plates collide into each other and push the land upwards.

4/5

Q5.Slab pull happens...

Between two rising convection cells when the semi-molten rock rises and pushes up between two tectonic plates pushing them apart. Where the semi-molten rock starts to fall back down and the heavy oceanic plate plunges down into the mantle. When two plates pull apart, creating a gap through which semi-molten rock (magma) rises and causes a volcano. When the core heats the semi-molten rock in the mantle causing it to rise.

5/5

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

How do the Earth's tectonic plates move?

Don’t worry if you get a question wrong! Forgetting is an important step in learning. We will recap next lesson.

Q1.Convection currents are...

1/5

Q2.As the rock in the lower mantle heats up and melts it expands which means that...

It becomes less dense (lighter) so it rises. It becomes denser (heavier) so it falls. It stays the same density and so does not rise or fall.

2/5

Q3.Convection currents cause the tectonic plates to move because...

The semi-molten rock is thick and viscous and so sticks to the bottom of the tectonic plate. The semi-molten rock is thin and runny and so sticks to the bottom of the tectonic plate.

3/5

Q4.Ridge push happens...

4/5

Q5.Slab pull happens...

Between two rising convection cells when the semi-molten rock rises and pushes up between two tectonic plates pushing them apart. Where the semi-molten rock starts to fall back down and the heavy oceanic plate plunges down into the mantle. When two plates pull apart, creating a gap through which semi-molten rock (magma) rises and causes a volcano. When the core heats the semi-molten rock in the mantle causing it to rise.

5/5

Lesson summary: How do the Earth's plates move?

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The next lesson in:
Tectonics
is:
What are the different plate boundaries?

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How do the Earth's plates move?

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Video

How do the Earth's tectonic plates move?

How do the Earth's tectonic plates move?

Lesson summary: How do the Earth's plates move?

It looks like you have not completed one of the quizzes.

Time to move!

The next lesson in: Tectonics is: What are the different plate boundaries?

Browse Oak's lessons:

The next lesson in:
Tectonics
is:
What are the different plate boundaries?