{"id":13221,"date":"2014-02-07T19:32:17","date_gmt":"2014-02-07T19:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=13221"},"modified":"2026-03-26T09:55:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:55:17","slug":"plate-tectonic-theory","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/plate-tectonic-theory\/","title":{"rendered":"Plate Tectonic Theory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_iMB1fsOE0BQ\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_iMB1fsOE0BQ\" data-source-videoID=\"iMB1fsOE0BQ\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Plate Tectonic Theory Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Plate Tectonic Theory\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_iMB1fsOE0BQ:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_iMB1fsOE0BQ {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/updated-plate-tectonic-theory-64becf294a0ee.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_iMB1fsOE0BQ\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_iMB1fsOE0BQ\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Plate Tectonic Theory\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_iMB1fsOE0BQ\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_iMB1fsOE0BQ\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_iMB1fsOE0BQ\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction Rxr_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"Rxr\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"Rxr_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"Rxr\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Layers_of_the_Earth\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Layers of the Earth<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Tectonic_Plates\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Tectonic Plates<\/a>\n<ul><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Why_Do_Tectonic_Plates_Move\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Why Do Tectonic Plates Move?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Convergent,_Divergent,_and_Transform\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Convergent, Divergent, and Transform<\/a>\n<ul><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Convergent_Boundaries\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Convergent Boundaries<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Divergent_Boundaries\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Divergent Boundaries<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Transform_Boundaries\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Transform Boundaries<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Hey everyone! Today we\u2019re talking about plate tectonics. <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Layers_of_the_Earth\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Layers of the Earth<\/h2>\n<p>\nHave you ever wondered what the earth is made of? It\u2019s just dirt and rocks and stuff, right? Well, yes, but there are many more different layers below us. The layer we\u2019re standing on is the crust, which is the outermost layer of the \u201cLithosphere,\u201d and varies from 0 to 62 miles deep, or thick.<\/p>\n<p>There are various levels and mantles below, some of which are liquid. At the very center you have the earth\u2019s inner core which is solid rock. At least, this is what scientists think\u2014the deepest hole we\u2019ve dug is only 7.5 miles deep into a planet that has a diameter of 7,900 miles.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Tectonic_Plates\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Tectonic Plates<\/h2>\n<p>\nBut back to the top. Tectonic plates are part of the upper crust, the lithosphere. They\u2019re a bit like a 3D jigsaw puzzle, except they\u2019re all different shapes and sizes and don\u2019t necessarily fit well together. In fact, they\u2019re constantly rubbing each other. But they don\u2019t move much, only up to 10 centimeters annually. That\u2019s about 4 inches for you Americans.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4096px-Plates_tect2_en.svg-scaled.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" style=\"box-shadow: 1.5px 1.5px 3px gray;\"  \/><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Why_Do_Tectonic_Plates_Move\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Why Do Tectonic Plates Move?<\/h3>\n<p>\nThe presumed reason the plates move is because they are more dense and stronger than the asthenosphere that is located directly below the lithosphere. In fact, these plates float on top of the asthenosphere, which is a highly viscous almost solid layer. Friction and gravity play a role, as do the currents and heat of the deeper regions on the <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/earths-atmosphere\/\">Earth<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Oceanic-continental_convergence_Fig21oceancont.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot more to this, and we don\u2019t fully understand everything, but that\u2019s about all you need to know for now.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Convergent,_Divergent,_and_Transform\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Convergent, Divergent, and Transform<\/h2>\n<p>\nThe way these plates move defines how these plates interact when they meet. <\/p>\n<p>There are three types of boundaries: convergent, divergent, or transform. <\/p>\n<p>Most of the exciting earth stuff happens at these boundaries, such as <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/measuring-earthquakes\/\">earthquakes<\/a>, mountain and trench formations, and volcanoes.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Convergent_Boundaries\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Convergent Boundaries<\/h3>\n<p>\nA convergent boundary is destructive, where two plates move toward one another. There are three locations for these boundaries: oceanic-oceanic, oceanic-continental, and continental-continental. When plates meet under an ocean, or an oceanic-continental boundary meet, the thicker and more dense plate (usually the oceanic one) is forced below the less dense plate in a process called subduction.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ocean-ocean.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ocean-con.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As that plate is forced into the earth, it heats up, which pushes magma towards the surface of the earth. If that magma doesn\u2019t cool before it reaches the surface, it explodes as a volcano.<\/p>\n<p>When two continental plates converge (where no ocean is involved), neither one of them is dense enough to slip into the asthenosphere, so they have to go up, which creates mountains like the Himalayas and Appalachians.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/con-con.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Divergent_Boundaries\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Divergent Boundaries<\/h3>\n<p>\nNow onto divergent boundaries. These are where plates, well, diverge from each other, meaning they move away from each other. As you can probably imagine, this creates rifts which eventually are filled with rising magma. These mainly happen on the ocean floor.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Transform_Boundaries\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Transform Boundaries<\/h3>\n<p>\nA transform boundary is where two plates slide next to each other. They can help relieve strain. The famous San Andreas fault in California is a transform fault, which means that even though these types of boundaries aren\u2019t destructive, they can still cause earthquakes.<\/p>\n<h32>The Hawaiian Islands<\/h2>\n<p>\nNow what about the Hawaiian islands? That must be where the pacific plate and some other plate meet, right?<\/p>\n<p>Well, no. Hawaii is pretty much dead center in the pacific plate. The nearest plate edge is 2,000 miles away.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/hawaii-plate-map.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" style=\"box-shadow: 1.5px 1.5px 3px gray;\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>According to the Geological Society, some geologists have suggested that a &#8216;hot spot&#8217; in the mantle, which remains stationary as the Pacific Plate moves over it, explains the existence of the island chain. The hot spot may represent the top of a mantle plume which originated deep down at the outer core-lower mantle boundary.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/hawaii.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The plate moves in a northwesterly direction due to the sea floor spreading along the East Pacific Rise. As oceanic lithosphere moves away from the hot spot, volcanic activity ceases, and it cools, becomes denser, and slowly subsides. As new oceanic lithosphere is positioned over the hot spot, a new island will begin to form above.<\/p>\n<p>Well, that\u2019s all for now. See you next time!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"citelist\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/oceanexplorer.noaa.gov\/facts\/plate-boundaries.html\"target=\"_blank\">NOAA. 2010. \u201cWhat Are the Different Types of Plate Tectonic Boundaries?\u201d Noaa.gov<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Divergent_boundary#\/media\/File:Bridge_across_continents_iceland.jpg\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cDivergent Boundary.\u201d 2023. Wikipedia.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geolsoc.org.uk\/Plate-Tectonics\/Chap3-Plate-Margins\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cThe Geological Society.\u201d 2020. Geolsoc.org.uk<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/environmental\/\">Return to Environmental Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Environmental Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":186020,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-13221","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-environmental-videos","7":"page_category-geography-videos","8":"page_category-geology-videos","9":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","10":"page_type-video","11":"subject_matter-science"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13221"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":261184,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13221\/revisions\/261184"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/186020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}