1 LESSON_Q1

• The Earth's lithosphere is divided into segments called tectonic plates
• Earthquake epicenters, volcanoes and mountain belts are related to the location of tectonic plate boundaries
• Lithosphere


  • Uppermost solid mantle and crust
  • Mechanical layer
• Asthenosphere


  • Partially melted and flows very slowly like a liquid
• Plate Tectonic Theory


  Explains that the Earth's lithosphere is fragmented into several segments called tectonic plates
• Tectonic plates are "floating" above the asthenosphere
• Each lithospheric segment (tectonic plate) moves independently
• Tectonic plates


  Segments that the Earth's lithosphere is fragmented into
• Plate Tectonic Theory


  Explains how the Earth's lithosphere is fragmented into tectonic plates that "float" above the asthenosphere
• Layers of the Earth

  • Inner Core
  • Outer Core
  • Mantle
  • Crust
• Mantle


  • Uppermost solid mantle is rigid
  • Asthenosphere has some plasticity and flows slowly like a liquid
  • Lower mantle (mesosphere)
• Lithosphere


  Mechanical layer made up of the crust and uppermost mantle, "floating" above the asthenosphere
• Tectonic plates share borders with other plates, called tectonic plate boundaries
• How we know where the tectonic plate boundaries lie

  1. Plot locations of earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain belts

  2. Use modern technologies like GPS and satellites to observe plate movements
• Major tectonic plates


  • African plate
  • Eurasian plate
  • Australian plate
  • North American Plate
  • South American plate
  • Antarctic plate
  • Pacific plate
• Minor tectonic plates


  • Nazca plate
  • Philippine plate
  • Scotia plate
  • Indian plate
  • Arabian plate
  • Cocos plate
  • Caribbean plate
• The Earth's surface has a mechanical layer called the lithosphere, made up of the crust and uppermost mantle, "floating" above the semi-melted asthenosphere
• The lithosphere is fragmented into several segments called tectonic plates
• A great majority of earthquake epicenters are found near or along the boundaries between tectonic plates
• Most volcanoes are located near or along the boundaries between tectonic plates
• Mountain ranges are located near or along the boundaries between tectonic plates
• Information and data used to draw tectonic plate boundaries


  • Earthquake epicenters
  • Volcano locations
  • Mountain belt locations
  • GPS and satellite observations of plate movements
• Philippines' location with respect to tectonic plates

  • Near major and minor tectonic plates
  • Majority of Philippine islands located on the Philippine plate
  • Near a tectonic plate boundary (Philippine Sea plate and Eurasian plate)
• Philippines being near a tectonic plate boundary

  Indicates high earthquake and volcano activity in the country
• This information about the Philippines' location relative to tectonic plates is relevant to citizens as it helps understand the country's high seismic and volcanic activity