Plate Tectonics Interactive Game Online

This page features a Plate Tectonics Interactive Game Online. The game contains multiple choice questions which educators can use to teach this vital geography lesson. The Earth is made up of plates that are in constant motion. These plates collide or diverge, creating mountains or valleys. This science game is for 3rd to 7th grades.

 

In plate tectonics, the motion of tectonic plates shapes the world's landscapes. In fact, the Himalayas, the tallest mountain range in the world, formed from the collision of two major plates. Before this uplift, the Himalayas were covered by the Tethys Ocean. Apart from this, there are many other major plates, including the African, Antarctic, North American, South American, and Pacific plates. The largest of these plates are the Arabian, African, Caribbean, and Indian plates. Satellite data and ground station measurements are used to estimate the current motion of tectonic plates.

Mantle convection

Mantle convection is one of the major processes underlying plate tectonics. It can be modeled using the laws of fluid mechanics, and the governing equations were developed in the 1960s. Today, however, the study of mantle convection has moved beyond simple geometries and fluid mechanics into a more sophisticated realm. It is now widely considered an important field of geophysics and has been the subject of many studies.

To better understand Earth's long-term evolution, it is crucial to understand the relationship between plate tectonics and mantle dynamics. In particular, detailed mantle convection dynamics are required to define the constraints imposed by geomagnetism and paleomagnetism. It is critical to note that the initial mantle convection is not equivalent to the deep mantle structure of the present. Therefore, early Earth dynamics should be included in studies of Earth's long-term evolution. This will help us gain a systematic perspective on the Earth's evolution.

Mantle currents influence Earth's geomagnetic field and could explain the frequent polarity reversals. These processes may also be linked to frequent changes in Earth's magnetic field. A group of geoscientists published their findings on July 29th in the journal Nature Geoscience. Ultimately, more "true polar wander" episodes should be derived from the paleomagnetic data. In addition, future models of the geomagnetic field must consider the effects of the heat flux at the core-mantle boundary.

Convection currents

In plate tectonics, convection currents play an important role. The motion of the earth's plates is caused by convection currents that cause them to move apart. These currents affect the mantle and the plates, resulting in divergent plate movement. Basically, convection occurs when the bulk of the molecules in a fluid move together, which is only true in gases and liquids.

These convection currents move gas and fluid particles, and are primarily created by temperature and density differences. Mantle convection causes the seafloor to spread, as it churns the mantle. It also recycles materials that are in the lithospheric layer. The Earth's mantle is extremely hot, so the heat produced from radioactive processes causes the plates to move. This movement is called tectonic shift.

The heat generated in the Earth's core causes convection currents to move. Magma is a viscous liquid that rises and turns over, and convection currents carry heat back to the mantle. This heat is the reason that earthquakes and mountains can form. Convection currents play an important role in plate tectonics. It explains the movement of continents and seafloor.

Transform boundaries

A transform boundary occurs when the plates of Earth slide past one another, but without creating a new crust. This process is sometimes called a conservative boundary, and is characterized by dextral and sinistral movement. Many landforms, such as mountains and ocean floors, have formed over thousands of years because of the movement of continents and oceans. However, this process can also lead to dramatic changes. When the plates slide past each other, they create linear valleys and can even split riverbeds in two.

A transform boundary cuts the continental lithosphere, and one of the most famous is the San Andreas Fault Zone in California. Another example of a land transform boundary is the Alpine Fault in New Zealand. To learn more about transform boundaries, check out our interactive Plate Tectonics Map. The map below shows the location of the two faults. When they connect, these two faults form subduction zones.

While the plates of Earth move toward each other, they do not always glide past each other. The tectonic process causes transform faults to lock and displace rocks in the area where they break. This sudden release of energy causes earthquakes. The earth is so thick that these faults cannot be easily wiped out with a knife, which is why they can cause such damage. In addition, a transform fault is typically only one fault or two.

Tidal forces

The tidal forces in plate tectonic systems are caused by varying ocean widths. In particular, the size of the oceans in the Pacific and Indian oceans is not equal. Moreover, the Atlantic ocean is at just the right size. The tides are affected by a combination of factors, including ocean morphology. To better understand the tidal forces in plate tectonics, let us review their mechanism.

The tidal force in plate tectonics is a stretching force and is the reason behind oceanic tides. The differences between gravity forces on two bodies cause the tides to occur. Despite this, tidal forces are small enough to be ignored by humans. Tidal forces can be dangerous for the environment, however. As we continue to learn more about the mechanism behind tidal forces in plate tectonics, we can better understand how they influence the evolution of the Earth and planets.

Aside from this, we should be aware of the effect of tidal forces on other planets and moons. The tidal force between Jupiter and Io causes violent eruptions on Io. Learn more about these forces from NASA, HyperPhysics, and NOAA. And don't forget to check out other links if you'd like to learn more about them!

Oceanic island arcs

Island arcs can occur in intra-oceanic settings as a result of continental crust fragments migrating away, or from subduction-related volcanoes at the margins of continents. These arcs have common generalized features, such as trenches, accretionary prisms, and basins. Oftentimes, the two features are associated, and an oceanic island arc will be larger than an island arc if they are subducted.

The formation of an island arc is a complex process involving multiple interrelated factors, including dehydration of the subducted oceanic crust and rock expansion. The back-arc basin acts as a substrate for the island arc, and the rock expansion in this area is related to the melting of subducted oceanic crust. In the case of a continental island arc, rock expansion along the long axis of the back-arc basin causes the island ark to be displaced and formed.

Island arcs can be hundreds of miles long and are formed by volcanic landforms. Examples of island arcs include the Kermadec islands, the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, the Mariana Islands, and the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. The Pacific margin has been designated as the "Ring of Fire" because of its abundance of volcanic rocks. Most of the world's active volcanoes lie within its margin.

Land and submarine relief features

The features on the land surface and undersea floor of the ocean are called "Land and Submarine Relief." The slope of the continents doesn't abruptly end at the shoreline, but instead continues steeply seaward. In addition, the continents have a shallow submerged extension that extends from their coasts, known as the continental shelf. The continental shelf is a shallow ocean basin that varies in width from a few kilometers to over 100 kilometers.

The oceans are covered with different types of land and sea floor relief. Oceanic plateaus are large flat submarine regions that are composed of mainly continental crust. They can form steps that interrupt the slope of the continent, and they are remnants of large igneous provinces. The continental crust contains the most silicon, while the oceanic crust contains the least. Hence, land and submarine relief features of plate tectonics are important in our lives and environment.

Submarine mountains are another kind of relief feature associated with plate tectonics. Seamounts are mountain-sized volcanic peaks rising out of the seafloor. The Hawaiian Islands and other Pacific islands are examples of seamounts. Many ocean ridges have these volcanic peaks, and they often accompany hotspots and mid-oceanic ridges. It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 seamounts worldwide.

Impacts

Neville Price's book, Impacts of Plate Tectonics, offers a fundamental new perspective on the origins of our present-day tectonic system. It challenges decades of geoscience theory by presenting evidence of dramatic changes in the plate tracks. In fact, the impacts are associated with the development of oceanic plateau and continental flood basalts, major stratigraphic stage boundaries, and toxicity levels. In some cases, they have even been linked to periods of extinction.

While scientists are still debating how plate tectonics originated, some believe they happened during the Neoproterozoic epoch, about one billion to 540 million years ago. At that time, the Earth experienced a period of unusual global cooling, and plate tectonics arose. This period would have resulted in profound changes to the oceans and atmosphere, affecting life on Earth.

While there are many benefits of plate tectonics, we also need to adapt and become more resourceful to cope with short-term impacts such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The long-term benefits of plate tectonics must be worth the short-term pain and suffering. This is why the theory is still debated. The impact of plate tectonics on our planet is immense.