tec·ton·ics
noun: tekˈtäniks/
large-scale processes affecting the structure of the earth’s crust.
Did you know there are plates on the surface of the earth? Not plates like your mom serves dinner on, but plates that are actually like skin wrapped around the world. The study of these plates is called tectonics.
There are eight major plates on the surface of the earth and whole bunch of minor plates, as well. You would think the plates would stand still, right? But they don’t. The plates are constantly moving — but don’t worry, they aren’t moving that fast. In fact, they are only moving centimeters each year. You could grow very old waiting for them to make a complete circle of the earth. But if you wanted to see the movement, you could catch a glimpse if you were ever in an earthquake!
The plates are the top layer of Earth. That layer is called the lithosphere. The layer beneath the lithosphere is the asthenosphere, which is made up of flowing molten rock. It is very hot there. The plates float on top of the molten rock, kind of like ice floats in your glass. When the plates move, it is called continental drift.
Have you ever looked at a flat map of the world and thought, “Maybe those continents could fit together like a puzzle?” If so, you aren’t the only one. Scientists noticed that the continents looked like they could fit together, so they cut up a map, moved the continents close together and came up with a huge piece of land, or a super continent, called Pangaea. They also looked at fossils, which are remnants of long-dead animals and plants, on different continents. Believe it or not, they found that fossils in Australia were a lot like the ones in Southern Asia. They also found that rock formations on the West Coast of Africa are very similar to those on the East Coast of South America!!
Imagine if the continents drifted back together. Your next door neighbor could be someone in Europe or maybe even Africa!!!
