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plate tectonics
f you look closely at a world map, you might notice something about the
coastlines of South America and Africa. The coastlines almost seem to fit
together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In 1620, Sir Francis Bacon became the
first to write about this very observation after seeing newly drafted maps of the world.
ARCTIC
OCEAN
EUROPE
NORTH
A M E R I C A ATLANTIC
PACIFIC
OCEAN
OCEAN
SOUTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Modelling exercise:
evidence of continental drift
AFRICA
INDIAN
OCEAN
AUSTRALIA
INDIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
320
Science Alive for VELS Level 5
Plate tectonics
Mid-ocean ridge
Through convection currents, hot mantle material rises through the
lithosphere at plate boundaries. The material cools on the ocean
floor, forming a ridge. Some peaks along mid-ocean ridges
rise more than 3 kilometres above the ocean floor.
Oceanic crust
Heavy oceanic crust is formed from
mantle material rising through plate
boundaries. The oceanic crust spreads
away from the ridge as more and more
crust forms. The spreading oceanic crust
pushes on nearby plates.
Continental crust
Subduction zone
Oceanic crust is heavier than
continental crust. In some places, it
slides under the continental crust and
melts into the top of the mantle. A
trench forms across the subduction
zone. The deepest trench is in the
Pacific Ocean. It is about 11 kilometres
deep. The sliding oceanic crust pulls
the rest of the plate along with it.
Convection currents
Scientists believe that convection currents exist in
the mantle. The movement of the convection currents
drags the Earths plates along.
THINK
4. What is the main difference between Wegeners
theory of continental drift and the theory of plate
tectonics?
5. Describe three reasons why the Earths plates
move.
321
14. Geological processes
learning
REMEMBER
1. What is Pangaea?
2. List three pieces of evidence Wegener used to help
support his theory of continental drift.
3. What is the name of the current theory that explains
how the Earths plates move?
I CAN:
describe the theories of continental
drift and plate tectonics
describe the evidence supporting
the existence of a super-continent
explain what the terms mid-ocean
ridge and subduction zone mean.
Our continent
Gondwana
he dinosaurs that lived 225 million years ago would have been able to walk
across all of the continents. Thats because the continents were joined
together in a single super-continent called Pangaea. As the continents split, the
animals evolved into different species, adapting to their new environments.
322
Science Alive for VELS Level 5
Go to worksheet 14.2:
Whats the time?
REMEMBER
1. What was Panthalassa?
2. What sea formed as Pangaea began to split?
3. (a) What two continents formed from the split of
Pangaea?
(b) Of which continent was Australia a part?
4. Briefly describe how Australias climate has
changed since it was part of Pangaea.
THINK
5. Why are rocks like limestone and mudstone found
Dry land
Sea
ICT
7. Go to www.jaconline.com.au/sciencealivevic/
Australia
Eromanga Sea
Antarctica
323
14. Geological processes
learning
I CAN:
describe how the movement of the
Earths plates led to the formation of
Pangaea, Laurasia and Gondwana
describe some of the geological
factors that led to the evolution of
Australian flora and fauna.