Plate Tectonics

This model shows rigid plates riding on the slowly flowing mantle. Students choose a convergent boundary where one plate subducts and builds mountains and trenches, a divergent boundary where magma rises to make new crust, or a transform boundary where plates slide past and stress releases as earthquakes. The speed slider runs from 1 to 15 cm per year, motion arrows can be shown, and readouts give boundary type, plate motion, landform and elapsed time. It suits lessons on how Earth's surface changes, with time compressed so that millions of years pass in seconds.

• Select Convergent and watch one plate sink while the Landform readout changes.
• Switch to Divergent and see new crust form as the plates pull apart.
• Choose Transform and look for the sticking and slipping that causes earthquakes.
• Move Plate speed from 2 to 10 cm/yr and compare the Elapsed time needed for the same change.
• Turn Motion arrows off and describe the plate directions from the picture alone.

1. 1Distinguish convergent, divergent and transform plate boundaries.
2. 2Match each boundary type to landforms such as trenches, mountains and rift valleys.
3. 3Explain why transform boundaries cause earthquakes.
4. 4Describe plate speeds as a few centimeters per year.

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