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Tectonic Plate Boundaries, Movements, and Earthquakes: Kid-Friendly Notes

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Stefany

30/08/2025

Geography

Tectonic hazards notes

423

30 Aug 2025

5 pages

Tectonic Plate Boundaries, Movements, and Earthquakes: Kid-Friendly Notes

user profile picture

Stefany

@stef_mvp

Tectonic plates, earthquakes, and volcanoes shape our planet's surface and... Show more

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
1 / 5
.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Volcanoes and Their Formation

Volcanoes form at specific plate boundaries and hotspots due to the movement of magma through the Earth's crust.

At destructive margins, when an oceanic plate is subducted into the mantle, it melts and forms a pool of magma. This magma rises through cracks in the crust called vents and erupts onto the surface as lava, forming a volcano.

At constructive margins, magma rises into the gap between separating plates, forming volcanoes as it settles.

Definition: Hotspots are areas where volcanoes form over particularly hot parts of the mantle, often away from plate boundaries.

Volcanic eruptions release lava, gas, and ash. Ash can cover land, block out the sun, and form pyroclastic flows, which are superheated currents of gas, ash, and rock.

Vocabulary: Pyroclastic flows are one of the most dangerous aspects of volcanic eruptions, capable of traveling at high speeds and destroying everything in their path.

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Earthquakes: Causes and Measurement

Earthquakes occur at all three types of plate boundaries due to the buildup and sudden release of tension:

  • At destructive margins, tension builds when one plate gets stuck as it moves into the mantle.
  • At constructive margins, tension builds along cracks within plates as they move apart.
  • At conservative margins, tension builds where plates grind past each other and get stuck.

When plates eventually jerk past each other, they send out shock waves, causing an earthquake.

Vocabulary: The focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake originates, while the epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.

Earthquakes are measured using the moment magnitude scale, which measures the amount of energy released. This scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in magnitude.

Example: An earthquake with a magnitude of 7 is ten times stronger than one with a magnitude of 6, and 100 times stronger than one with a magnitude of 5.

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Living with Tectonic Hazards

Despite the risks, many people choose to live in tectonically active areas for various reasons:

  1. Established communities and family ties
  2. Employment opportunities
  3. Confidence in government support after hazards
  4. Fertile soil around volcanoes, good for agriculture
  5. Tourist attractions providing economic benefits

Management strategies for tectonic hazards include:

  1. Monitoring: Networks of seismometers and lasers detect Earth's movements, enabling early warning systems.
  2. Prediction: While earthquakes cannot be reliably predicted, scientists can forecast high-risk areas. Volcanic eruptions are more predictable, allowing time for evacuation.
  3. Protection: Buildings can be designed to withstand earthquakes using reinforced concrete and special foundations.
  4. Planning: Emergency services train for disasters, and evacuation routes are established to reduce injuries.

Highlight: Automatic shut-off switches for gas and electricity supplies are crucial in preventing fires following earthquakes.

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Global Distribution of Volcanoes and Impact of Tectonic Hazards

Volcanoes are primarily found along destructive plate margins but also occur at constructive and conservative plate margins. Some, like those in Hawaii, are found away from plate margins due to hotspots.

Example: Volcanoes form at constructive margins because as plates pull apart, magma rises into the gap and erupts at the surface.

The impact of tectonic hazards can vary significantly between Low Income Countries (LICs) and High Income Countries (HICs). In LICs, the death toll from earthquakes is often higher due to:

  1. Limited resources for repairing infrastructure, hampering rescue and aid efforts
  2. Slower restoration of essential services like water and sewage systems, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks
  3. Less robust building standards and enforcement, leading to more structural collapses

Highlight: The economic disparity between LICs and HICs plays a crucial role in their ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from tectonic hazards.

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Earth's Structure and Plate Tectonics

The Earth's outer layer, or crust, is divided into large slabs called tectonic plates that float on the semi-molten mantle beneath. These plates move due to convection currents in the mantle, creating various types of boundaries where they meet.

Vocabulary: Convection currents are the circular motion of heated fluids, in this case, within the Earth's mantle.

There are significant differences between oceanic and continental crust:

Highlight: Oceanic crust is thinner (5-10km) and denser, while continental crust is thicker (30-50km) and less dense.

The three main types of plate boundaries are:

  1. Destructive Margins: Two plates move towards each other. When oceanic crust meets continental crust, the denser oceanic plate is subducted into the mantle and destroyed, often creating volcanoes and ocean trenches. When two continental plates collide, the ground is folded and forced upwards, creating mountain ranges.

  2. Constructive Margins: Two plates move away from each other, such as at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Magma rises from the mantle to fill the gaps, cooling to create new crust.

  3. Conservative Margins: Two plates move sideways past each other or in the same direction at different speeds. Crust is neither created nor destroyed at these boundaries.

Example: The San Andreas Fault in California is a well-known conservative margin where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other.



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Stefan S

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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

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Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

 

Geography

423

30 Aug 2025

5 pages

Tectonic Plate Boundaries, Movements, and Earthquakes: Kid-Friendly Notes

user profile picture

Stefany

@stef_mvp

Tectonic plates, earthquakes, and volcanoes shape our planet's surface and pose significant hazards to human populations. This summary explores the fundamental concepts of plate tectonics, the formation of volcanoes, and the causes and measurement of earthquakes. It also discusses the... Show more

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

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Volcanoes and Their Formation

Volcanoes form at specific plate boundaries and hotspots due to the movement of magma through the Earth's crust.

At destructive margins, when an oceanic plate is subducted into the mantle, it melts and forms a pool of magma. This magma rises through cracks in the crust called vents and erupts onto the surface as lava, forming a volcano.

At constructive margins, magma rises into the gap between separating plates, forming volcanoes as it settles.

Definition: Hotspots are areas where volcanoes form over particularly hot parts of the mantle, often away from plate boundaries.

Volcanic eruptions release lava, gas, and ash. Ash can cover land, block out the sun, and form pyroclastic flows, which are superheated currents of gas, ash, and rock.

Vocabulary: Pyroclastic flows are one of the most dangerous aspects of volcanic eruptions, capable of traveling at high speeds and destroying everything in their path.

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Earthquakes: Causes and Measurement

Earthquakes occur at all three types of plate boundaries due to the buildup and sudden release of tension:

  • At destructive margins, tension builds when one plate gets stuck as it moves into the mantle.
  • At constructive margins, tension builds along cracks within plates as they move apart.
  • At conservative margins, tension builds where plates grind past each other and get stuck.

When plates eventually jerk past each other, they send out shock waves, causing an earthquake.

Vocabulary: The focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake originates, while the epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.

Earthquakes are measured using the moment magnitude scale, which measures the amount of energy released. This scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in magnitude.

Example: An earthquake with a magnitude of 7 is ten times stronger than one with a magnitude of 6, and 100 times stronger than one with a magnitude of 5.

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Living with Tectonic Hazards

Despite the risks, many people choose to live in tectonically active areas for various reasons:

  1. Established communities and family ties
  2. Employment opportunities
  3. Confidence in government support after hazards
  4. Fertile soil around volcanoes, good for agriculture
  5. Tourist attractions providing economic benefits

Management strategies for tectonic hazards include:

  1. Monitoring: Networks of seismometers and lasers detect Earth's movements, enabling early warning systems.
  2. Prediction: While earthquakes cannot be reliably predicted, scientists can forecast high-risk areas. Volcanic eruptions are more predictable, allowing time for evacuation.
  3. Protection: Buildings can be designed to withstand earthquakes using reinforced concrete and special foundations.
  4. Planning: Emergency services train for disasters, and evacuation routes are established to reduce injuries.

Highlight: Automatic shut-off switches for gas and electricity supplies are crucial in preventing fires following earthquakes.

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Global Distribution of Volcanoes and Impact of Tectonic Hazards

Volcanoes are primarily found along destructive plate margins but also occur at constructive and conservative plate margins. Some, like those in Hawaii, are found away from plate margins due to hotspots.

Example: Volcanoes form at constructive margins because as plates pull apart, magma rises into the gap and erupts at the surface.

The impact of tectonic hazards can vary significantly between Low Income Countries (LICs) and High Income Countries (HICs). In LICs, the death toll from earthquakes is often higher due to:

  1. Limited resources for repairing infrastructure, hampering rescue and aid efforts
  2. Slower restoration of essential services like water and sewage systems, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks
  3. Less robust building standards and enforcement, leading to more structural collapses

Highlight: The economic disparity between LICs and HICs plays a crucial role in their ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from tectonic hazards.

.
Outer layer
(crusts)
crust is divided into
slabs called tectonic
plates, float on mantle.
UNIT 1A-Tectonic Hazaras
oceanic
crust is thinne

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Earth's Structure and Plate Tectonics

The Earth's outer layer, or crust, is divided into large slabs called tectonic plates that float on the semi-molten mantle beneath. These plates move due to convection currents in the mantle, creating various types of boundaries where they meet.

Vocabulary: Convection currents are the circular motion of heated fluids, in this case, within the Earth's mantle.

There are significant differences between oceanic and continental crust:

Highlight: Oceanic crust is thinner (5-10km) and denser, while continental crust is thicker (30-50km) and less dense.

The three main types of plate boundaries are:

  1. Destructive Margins: Two plates move towards each other. When oceanic crust meets continental crust, the denser oceanic plate is subducted into the mantle and destroyed, often creating volcanoes and ocean trenches. When two continental plates collide, the ground is folded and forced upwards, creating mountain ranges.

  2. Constructive Margins: Two plates move away from each other, such as at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Magma rises from the mantle to fill the gaps, cooling to create new crust.

  3. Conservative Margins: Two plates move sideways past each other or in the same direction at different speeds. Crust is neither created nor destroyed at these boundaries.

Example: The San Andreas Fault in California is a well-known conservative margin where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other.

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.

Where can I download the Knowunity app?

You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

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4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user