What do you mean by plate tectonics?

Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements. In plate tectonics, Earth’s outermost layer, or lithosphere—made up of the crust and upper mantle—is broken into large rocky plates.

What are tectonic plates for Class 7?

The crust of the earth is completely made of rocks and hence it is called the lithosphere. The lithosphere is broken into several rocky plates which are called tectonic plates. They form the continents and the beds of the oceans. They are called continental and oceanic plates respectively.

How tectonic plates are formed?

Continual diving of crust into mantle is sufficient to explain formation of plate boundaries. The plates — interlocking slabs of crust that float on Earth’s viscous upper mantle — were created by a process similar to the subduction seen today when one plate dives below another, the report says.

What are plate tectonics Class 9?

Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. The plates act like a hard and rigid shell compared to Earth’s mantle. This strong outer layer is called the lithosphere.

What are tectonic plates Class 9 answer?

A Tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere.

What are the types of tectonic plates?

There are three kinds of plate tectonic boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries. This image shows the three main types of plate boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform.

What are the three types of plate boundaries write their characteristic features?

There are three main types of plate boundaries:

• Convergent boundaries: where two plates are colliding. Subduction zones occur when one or both of the tectonic plates are composed of oceanic crust.
• Divergent boundaries – where two plates are moving apart.
• Transform boundaries – where plates slide passed each other.

What is plate tectonics Class 11?

Explanation: Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. The plates act like a hard and rigid shell compared to Earth’s mantle. The lithosphere includes the crust and outer part of the mantle.

What are the 12 major tectonic plates?

African Plate.

What are facts about tectonic plates?

Tectonic plates are pieces of land that connect together on the Earth’s outer shell. You can think of them like a giant round puzzle that cover Earth underneath the ground. These pieces bump together and move, even though it is only a couple of centimeters a year.

What are the seven major plates?

Pacific Plate. Pacific major plate is the largest which underlies the Pacific Ocean.

What is true of tectonic plates?

What is a tectonic plate? A tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere . Plate size can vary greatly, from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers across; the Pacific and Antarctic Plates are among the largest.