Brequelle Smith

2
nd
period
Plate Tectonics

Earths surface is made of plates that pull away and collide with each other, causing
violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The plates interact in different ways. These different
ways are divergent, convergent, and transform. Divergent is when the plates spread apart.
Transform is when they rub against each other and convergent is when they start pushing against
each other. These different movements are what cause earthquakes and volcanoes.
When an earthquake happens, the plates rub against each other (this is a transform action) and
sometimes they get stuck. Pressure then builds up and when that pressure is released, shaking on
the earths surface happens. If we look at maps that show where earthquakes happen, we can see
that there are many earthquakes happening all along the west coast of South and North America.
This tells us that subductions is happening. Subduction is when the oceanic and continental
plates go under each other and friction builds then the magma below pushes them back up. When
a volcano is made the Magma builds up because of friction, and lava comes out.
Many billions of years ago scientist think that the earth had only one continent, Pangaea.
Then Continental Drift, which is plate tectonics, made seven total continents. Their evidence for
this has to do with fossils. An Archeologist found that there are fossils of the same animal on
different continents. Since the animals could not swim the continents had to have once been
together. A number of reptiles could in fact swim but some animals like the dinosaurs could not.
We also have evidence that they evolved in one place. From these fossils scientist were able to
find out more about earth.
A great piece of evidence of plate tectonics is, rock age. We can tell how old a rock is
and if it came from either an earthquake or a volcano, based on sea floor spreading. Tectonic
Brequelle Smith
2
nd
period
Plate Tectonics
Plates can move against each other sending the water levels higher and the sea floor surface area
greater.
In conclusion, Plate Tectonics are something that we have learned a lot from and can
keep on learning from. With the knowledge that scientist have gathered from Plate Tectonics
they found that earth used to have a giant continent, called Pangaea. We also learned how to tell
how old a rock is using Plate Tectonics. Plate Tectonics are important and should be studied
more because we can learn more about how the earth was made and how the earth could look in
a million years.