Ch 7 Plate Techtonics Flashcards
Mantle
The layer of rock between the earths crust and core
Core
The central part of the earth below the mantle
Lithosphere
Solid outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle
Anthenosphere
The soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move
Mesosphere
The strong lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core
Tectonic plate
A block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outer most part of the mantle.
Continental drift
The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations.
Sea floor spreading
The process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma roses toward the surface and solidifies
Plate tectonics
The theory that explains how large pieces of the earths outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape.
Convergent boundary
The boundary formed by the collision of two lithosphere plates
Divergent boundary
The boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other
Transform boundary
The boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally
Compression
Stress that occurs when forces act to squeeze an object.
Tension
Stress that occurs when forces act to stretch an object
Folding
The bending of rock layers due to stress
