Tectonic Plates and the movement of the Earth's Crust
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/5/8/23585002/3307299.jpg?267)
The outer crust of the earth is a bit like
a broken egg shell, but unlike an egg the pieces are not stuck to the inside.
The pieces of the earths puzzle move about on the molten core below.
In some places they are moving towards each other and even overlap.
In other places they are moving apart.
Whenever the pieces move they create an
earthquake. When substances heat up they expand and if heated enough produce gas.
Since the Earth’s core is extremely hot, the molten rock material expands and
forms gasses. This expansion creates a lot of pressure and so the weakest places
on the Earth’s surface - along the cracks -the molten lava is able to escape in
the form of a volcano.
a broken egg shell, but unlike an egg the pieces are not stuck to the inside.
The pieces of the earths puzzle move about on the molten core below.
In some places they are moving towards each other and even overlap.
In other places they are moving apart.
Whenever the pieces move they create an
earthquake. When substances heat up they expand and if heated enough produce gas.
Since the Earth’s core is extremely hot, the molten rock material expands and
forms gasses. This expansion creates a lot of pressure and so the weakest places
on the Earth’s surface - along the cracks -the molten lava is able to escape in
the form of a volcano.
Watch this process happen.
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How mountains and earthquakes happen.
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![Picture](/uploads/2/3/5/8/23585002/7379127.gif?448)
The pieces of the Earth’s crust are called tectonic plates.
The locations of the pieces are shown in the diagram below.
Along these cracks is where most of the earthquake and volcanic activity takes place. The arrows show the direction of movement. The process of movement is called ‘continental drift’ since the continents are drifting around.
The locations of the pieces are shown in the diagram below.
Along these cracks is where most of the earthquake and volcanic activity takes place. The arrows show the direction of movement. The process of movement is called ‘continental drift’ since the continents are drifting around.