OCR Geography Plate Tectonics Revision Notes

• 1The Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates.
• 2Tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle.
• 3Plate boundaries can be divergent, convergent, or transform.
• 4Earthquakes and volcanoes are often found at plate boundaries.
• 5The theory of plate tectonics explains the distribution of continents and ocean basins.

Plate tectonics is like a giant puzzle made of huge pieces called tectonic plates that float on the Earth's surface. These plates move around slowly, and sometimes they bump into each other or pull apart. When they do this, it can cause earthquakes or volcanoes. Understanding plate tectonics helps us know why certain places on Earth are more active than others.