75 km thick

8 km thick

Granite

light

Basalt

heavyMANTLE

SEA

A

B

http://www.mpm.edu/reef/pt-gif.html

Convection Currents

Structure of the Earth and Plate Boundaries

1. Draw a labeled diagram to show the structure of the Earth.

2. What is a Plate?(avoid the dinner joke)

3. What are the differences between continental crust and oceanic crust?

4. What is a convection current?

5. Add the main plate names to your map and arrows showing the direction of plate

movement.

The Earth is divided into 3 Parts

These are:-

CORE

MANTLE

CRUST

The MANTLE is…….

Very hot @ 1200 C

Very thick @2900 km

Under great pressure

It moves!!!!!!!! Due to CONVECTION CURRENTS

The CRUST is …….

Thin in places 8km thick

Thick in places 75 km thick

Oceanic Crust

(heavy)

Continental Crust

(light)

BASALT

GRANITE

All crust is broken up into large plates(TECTONIC PLATES)

These Plates MOVE!!!!