YEAR 9 GEOGRAPHY - TECTONICS

Sep 28, 2026

Year 9 Geography - Tectonics provides key concepts and vocabulary for understanding plate tectonics and the structure of Earth. It explains outer core, inner core, mantle and crust, then links plate margin types (convergent, constructive, conservative, destructive) to landforms such as fold mountains, volcanic islands and subduction zones. It also covers impacts like volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, plus global distribution, hazard prediction and monitoring, protection strategies and why people live near tectonic hazards.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Key Vocabulary

Destructive plate margin

Conservative plate margin

Constructive (transform) plate margin

Structure of the Earth

Plate Tectonics

Impacts of Plate Tectonics

Volcanic Eruptions

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Global Distribution of Tectonic Activity

Management of Tectonic Hazards

Primary and Secondary Effects of Volcanic Activity

Why Do People Live Near Tectonic Hazards?

YEAR 9 GEOGRAPHY-TECTONICS | 1. KEY VOCABULARY | | | --- | --- | | Destructive
plate margin | Tectonic plate margin where two plates are converging and oceanic plate is subducted – there could be violent earthquakes and explosive volcanoes | | Conservative
plate margin | Two plates sliding alongside eachother, in the same or different directions | | Constructive
(transform)
plate margin | Tectonic plate margin where rising magma adds new material to plates that are diverging or moving apart | | Continental
crust | The low density, thick outer layer of Earth which forms our continents | | Oceanic crust | The dense, thin outer layer of Earth that lies underneath the ocean | | Plate margin | The border between two tectonic plates | | Tectonic plate | Section of the Earth’s crust about 100km thick | | Composite
volcanoes | Steep-sided volcanoes found at constructive plate margins | | Shield volcano | broad, flat volcano with nonviolent eruptions formed at constructive margins and at ‘hotspots’ | | 2. STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH | | | | --- | --- | --- | | 1.Outer core – made of liquid nickel and iron
2. Inner core – solid centre of the earth that reach 6000˚C
3. Mantle – contains magma that moves in currents
4. Crust – think layer of solid rock
Magma is molten rock which Is called Lava once is has reached the surface of land. | | | | 3. PLATE TECTONICS | | | | • Convergent plate boundary – where two plate collide, and fold mountains are formed
• Constructive plate boundary – when two plates separate, and volcanic islands are formed. An example is the Hawaiian islands.
• Conservative plate boundary – where two plates slip past each other and earthquakes occur. An example is San Andreas fault line.
• Destructive—Where an oceanic and continental crust collide and forma subduction zone leading to volcanoes being formed. | | | | | | | | 4. IMPACTS OF PLATE TEC- | | --- | | Volcanic Eruptions—These can be created when plate collide and separate
•Lava comes up the vent and out of the crater
•A shield volcano is much flatter and less explosive whereas Shield volcanoes have much steeper sides and thicker (more viscous) lava.
Earthquakes—Occurs when two plate slip past each other. Tremors radiate from the point of impact . The strength of them are measured using the Richter scale—a scientific scale from 1-10 used to measure the
magnitude of an earthquake

Tsunamis—A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake.•The focus is underwater and causes huge waves to come ashore. Waves can travel at up to 500 miles per hour.
•Tsunami can be predicted when the sea retracts (pulls back) | |
YEAR 9 GEOGRAPHY-TECTONICS | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 5. KEY VOCABULARY | | | 6. GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF TECTONIC ACTIVITY | | 8. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EFFECTS OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY | | Prediction | Using historical evidence and monitoring, scientists can make predictions about when and where a hazard may happen | | | | | | | | | Most tectonic activity is along plate margins and on the edge of continents. Some volcanoes form over hot spots in the mantle eg. Hawaii.
| | | | Monitoring | Recording physical changes, i.e. detecting heat and shape changes of volcanoes using remote sensing, to help forecast when and where a natural hazard might strike | | | | | | Protection | Actions taken before a hazard strikes to reduce its impact, such as educating people or improving building design | | | | | | | | | 7. MANAGEMENT OF TECTONIC HAZARDS | | | | Primary | Initial impact of a natural event on people and prop- | | | | | | | | | • Scientist can monitor tectonic activity, e.g seismometers can monitor Earth’s movements and | | | | effects | erty, caused directly by it, i.e. the buildings collapsing following an earthquake | | equipment can measure escaping gas.
• Volcanic activity can be predicted and people can evacuate. Predictin

FAQs

What is the difference between destructive, constructive and conservative plate margins?

Destructive margins involve oceanic and continental crust colliding, leading to subduction and volcanoes. Constructive (transform) margins involve plates separating and new material forming, often with volcanic islands. Conservative margins involve plates sliding past each other, causing earthquakes.

How are volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis created?

Volcanic eruptions are created when plates collide and separate, bringing lava up through vents and craters. Earthquakes occur when plates slip past each other and tremors radiate from the impact point. Tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes, with the focus underwater driving huge waves ashore.

How do scientists predict and manage tectonic hazards?

Scientists use historical evidence and monitoring, recording physical changes such as heat and shape changes with remote sensing. Management includes protection actions before hazards strike, such as education and improved building design, and planning to reduce risk.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by anakgang17