Earth's Layers

Convection Currents

Convection currents move heat from one place to another by motion of a liquid such as water, air or lava. The heat moving function of convection currents drives the earth’s ocean currents, weather and geology. Convection is different from conduction, which is a transfer of heat between substances in contact with each other.

What Causes It?

Convection currents form because a heated fluid expands, becoming less dense. The less-dense heated fluid rises away from the heat source. As it rises, it pulls cooler fluid down to replace it. This fluid in turn is heated, rises and pulls down more cool fluid. This cycle establishes a circular current that stops only when heat is evenly distributed throughout the fluid. For instance, a hot radiator heats the air immediately around it. The air rises toward the ceiling, pulling cooler air down from the ceiling into the radiator to be heated. This process repeats until the air in the room is evenly heated.

The Convection currents are helpful to the plate tectonics theory because it actually gives a reason for plates moving apart. The convection currents help move out the the plates.

Continental Drift-Alfred Wenger

Continental Drift is where all of the plates moving.The scientists judged him because he couldnt prove why the plates moved.

*The edges on some continents fit like a jigsaw puzzle

*The mountains on some borders matched to other ones.

*some minerals on borders match other ones also.

*Climate Found fossils of trees that normally grow in temperate areas, but today are in a 

polar climate.

Plate Tectonics

a theory explaining the structure of the earth's crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle.

Convergent Boundaries

In convergent boundaries the plates move towards each other

Crustal Features Of Convergent Boundaries

Trenches

Volcanic Arcs

Mountain Ranges

Earthquakes

Divergent Boundaries

Divergent boundaries happen when the plates separate.