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Tectonic Plate

Key Stage 3

Meaning

A tectonic plate is a large piece of the Earth's crust floating on top of the mantle.

About Tectonic Plates

The Crust is split into several tectonic plates.
Tectonic plates move around separately and and when they rub against each other this causes Earthquakes.
The tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle.
If one tectonic plate moves on top of another the tectonic plate underneath starts to melt and magma rises up to make Volcanoes.
TectonicPlates.png
A diagram showing the different tectonic plates that make the Earths Crust.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A tectonic plate is a large piece of the Earth's crust floating on top of the mantle.

About Tectonic Plates

The Crust is split into several tectonic plates.
Tectonic plates move around separately and and when they rub against each other this causes Earthquakes.
The tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle.
If one tectonic plate moves on top of another the tectonic plate underneath starts to melt and magma rises up to make Volcanoes.
TectonicPlates.png
A diagram showing the different tectonic plates that make the Earths Crust.