Tectonic Plate Facts For Kids

What Are Tectonic Plates?

Tectonic plates are defined as Earth’s outer layers that are made from large pieces of solid rock. Have you ever felt the ground beneath your feet shaking? It can occur because of an earthquake, which happens due to pieces of solid rock (plates) always shifting around. These plates fit together like puzzle pieces.

Earth’s crust is broken into a lot of minor and major plates. There are 7 major plates:

1. The Pacific Plate
2. The North American Plate
3. The Eurasian Plate
4. The African Plate
5. The Antarctic Plate
6. The Indo-Australia Plate
7. The South American Plate 

 How Do Tectonic Plates Move?

Tectonic plates move, slide, bump, rub against and away from each other, these movements occur due to convection currents in the mantle. Did you know the Earth’s mantle is very hot? This heats up the crust that lies above it, this process is defined as convection currents. When the process of convection current occurs in the mantle it drags tectonic plates with it (as they lie on top of the mantle). 

There are 3 types of movements that occur: 

1. Convergent (colliding): In this movement, plates collide into each other and it creates mountains, volcanoes and even deep ocean trenches. 
2. Divergent (spreading apart): In this movement, plates move away from each other. This creates a new oceanic crust as magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap created by the movement. 
3. Transform (sliding past): In this movement, plates slide horizontally past each other and neither new crust is created nor destroyed. This movement can cause friction and earthquakes. 

What Happens When Tectonic Plates Move?

When tectonic plates move:

1. Earthquakes occur when stress on the tectonic plates causes the ground to shake and crack. 
2. Mountains are formed when tectonic plates converge (collide) with one another. 
3. Volcanoes erupt and form due to Earth’s crust being pulled by tectonic plate movements, which causes the magma from inside the earth to erupt to the surface.
4. Trenches in the ocean form due to tectonic plates converging. When an older and denser plate is pushed under a lighter plate deep into the mantle, it causes the V shape to form.  

Where Are Tectonic Plates Most Active?

Tectonic plates are most active in:

• Pacific Plate – The Ring of Fire
• The Mid-Atlantic Ridge
• The San Andreas Fault

Famous Plate Boundaries

Here is a list of famous plate boundaries in the world:

• The Himalaya Mountains (made of the Indian plate and the Eurasian Plate)
• The San Andreas Fault ( The North American Plate and the Pacific Plate)
• The East African Rift (Divergent boundary)

How Do Scientists Study Plates?

Here are a few of the methods that scientists use to study the plates:

1. Seismology: Scientists study the world through seismology graphs and earthquake patterns reveal plate boundaries and movements. 
2. GPS satellites and technology: Scientists track plate movement through GPS and satellite technology.
3. Ocean floor mapping: Scientists study the plates through sonar and deep-sea explorations.

Tectonic Plates vs. Continental Drift

Fun Tectonic Plate Facts for Kids

• Did you know all of Earth’s land and water rests on tectonic plates? 
• Africa is slowly splitting into two, due to tectonic plate movement.
• Did you know the Pacific plate is the biggest plate? 
• Tectonic plates can cause volcanoes to erupt and cause earthquakes. 
• When two plates come together they form volcanoes. 
• It is believed by scientists that tectonic plates move 2-15 cm every year. 

Conclusion

The Earth’s surface is always shifting and changing due to tectonic plates. We understand that movement of tectonic plates can cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. If you live in an earthquake-prone-area you should always have an emergency kit ready with you. 

Next time when you see a mountain or hill, try to imagine what’s happening below the surface.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tectonic Plates

External Links

• U.S. Department of the Interior – What is a tectonic plate?
• Columbia Climate School – A Seismologist Present at the Discovery of Plate Tectonics
• Berkeley – Alfred Wegener (1880-1930)
• Wikipedia – North American plate