Explore the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator
Drag two plates and set their velocities to build convergent, divergent or transform boundaries, then watch mountains, rifts.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator?
Drag two plates and set their velocities to build convergent, divergent or transform boundaries, then watch mountains, rifts and earthquakes appear in a live cross-section. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
This is the same reasoning used to explain the Himalaya (convergent), the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (divergent) and the San Andreas Fault (transform).
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
Plates move at a few centimeters per year, driven by mantle convection.
The relative velocity between two plates decides the boundary type: converging, diverging, or sliding past.
Convergent boundaries build mountains and cause earthquakes; divergent boundaries create new crust; transform boundaries release stress as earthquakes without much vertical change.
Use the buttons to force a convergent boundary and watch a mountain grow in the cross-section.
Force a divergent boundary and watch new ocean crust stripes appear.
Set a small relative velocity for a transform boundary and count the earthquakes.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Teachers
For teachers: project the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Force a divergent boundary and watch new ocean crust stripes appear. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
How do scientists know plates actually move?
GPS measurements today directly track plate velocities of a few cm/year, matching the seafloor magnetic stripe patterns that recorded past spreading.
Why do convergent boundaries build the tallest mountains?
Sustained compression over millions of years thickens and uplifts crust faster than erosion can wear it down, as in the Himalaya.
Is the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator free to use?
Yes. The Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Geology group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 1 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
How do I use the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator?
1. In the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator, use the controls to change Velocity (cm/yr, +right / −left). The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator, pick an option such as Plate A, Plate B to switch modes or load an example. 3. In the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator, press "Force convergent", "Force divergent", "Force transform" to start, reset or change what is happening. 4. Start with this experiment: Use the buttons to force a convergent boundary and watch a mountain grow in the cross-section. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator responds in real time. 5. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: Plates move at a few centimeters per year, driven by mantle convection.
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Try the Continental Drift & Plate Motion Simulator now
Drag two plates and set their velocities to build convergent, divergent or transform. Free to use.
Try it free