Page 97 - Science Course 2 (Book 2)

Mo10-L3b: Why Tectonic Plates Move?

North America and Europe once were part of a large The plates moved apart, and the Atlantic Ocean
continent called Pangaea. Over time, tectonic plate formed.
motion broke apart the supercontinent Pangaea.
North America is separating from Europe at an
average rate of just 2.5 cm per year.

Why Do Tectonic Plates Move?

The circulation within f uids caused by differences in
density and thermal energy is called convection.

Convection occurs in Earth’s asthenosphere, just
Before After below the lithosphere.

A divergent boundary formed between North
America and Europe about 200 million years ago.

Mantle CORE Mantle

Convection in
the mantle can
drag plates over
Earth’s surface.

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