Plate Tectonics

Model Ship from Ancient Egyptian Tomb, 2000 BC

Kick'em Jenny Volcano

NOAA: Public Domain

Have you ever wondered how volcanic islands form in the middle of the ocean? In this topic you'll learn about the theory of plate tectonics. Many individual plates comprise Earth's moving crust, and interesting events occur where these plates meet. Scientists categorize plate tectonics into convergent, divergent, and transform motions.

Essential Questions

  • What two theories does plate tectonics bring together?
  • What happens at a divergent, convergent, and transform boundary?
  • What happens at hot spots?
  • How do plates move?