Plate Tectonics Theory

Continental Drift
-Movement of Earth's continents relative to each other
-Continents appear to fit together
-Alfred Wegener: developed theory on continental drift and "discovered" pangea
All plates are located on the outside of the crust, classified as oceanic or continental
Types of Plate Boundaries
-Convergent (Subduction and Collision) A.
-Collision
-Two continental plates move towards each other, colliding
-Mountain ranges ex:Alps
-Subduction
-Continental and oceanic or two oceanic plates collide but oceanic is subducted because of density difference
-trenches, volcanoes ex:Andes mountain range
-Divergent B.
-Two plates, oceanic or continental, move away from each other
-Oceanic ridges ex: Mid Atlantic Ridge
-Seafloor spreading
-Transform C.
-Two plates, oceanic or continental, rub against each other but are parallel in movement
-Ex: California and Pacific ocean