Tectonic Plates
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 1.2.2
Tectonic Plates
The Earth's crust is broken into large pieces called tectonic plates. Tectonic plates can move because the rock in the mantle is only semi-solid and molten. There are 2 kinds of tectonic plates:
What is a continental plate?
- Continental plates are thicker, older and lighter, so they do not sink (subduct).
What is an oceanic plate?
- Oceanic plates are thinner, younger, and denser so they can sink (subduct) under another plate.
What is a plate margin or plate boundary?
- Plate boundaries and plate margins are the same thing.
- They describe the location on Earth where 2 tectonic plates meet or sit next to each other.
Test yourself on Tectonic Plates
What is the Earth's crust broken into?
Toggle until all are correct: Continental plates are...
What do we call the place where 2 tectonic plates meet?