Chapter 1. - The Structure Of The Earth Flashcards
What is the crust
The crust is a layer of solid rock that covers the surface of the earth and is divided into plater
What is the mantle
Its hot molten magma under the crust and it flows in currents
What is the core
Its under the mantle, its the centre of the earth and is very hot - between 3000 and 5000 degrees Celsius. Its divided into the inner and outer core. Its mostly made of iron and is solid in centre.
What is the earths crust divided into?
Plates
Explain what happens when two of the earths plates slide past each other.
Pressure builds up before the plates move and causes earthquakes
What happens when two of the earths plates push together
The heavier plate sinks under the lighter plate. Huge pressure builds up along plate boundaries And causes Earthquakes, fold mountains and volcanoes occur
What happens if two of the earths plates pull apart
Magma enters the cracks And forms volcanoes. Mid - Atlantic ridges are formed and new land is added. This new land forms island this is therefore a constructive plate boundary.
Hat does plate tectonics mean
Its the study of the plate movements and their effects - folding, faulting, earthquakes and volcanoes.
What are plate boundaries
They are the lines or edges where the plates meet.
What is continental drift
It is the very small movement of the plates each year
Why causes the plates to move
Convection currents cause the plates to move.
What are convection currents
When magma is heated by the core, hot currents rise up in the mantle and join together or separate under the crust. This causes the plates to move together or separate. Where currents flow towards each other the plates collide; where the currents flow away from each other the plates separate.
what is Pangaea
It is the way the continents were joined millions of years ago
What are the features formed when plates collide
Earthquakes, volcanoes and fold mountains are formed when plates collide
What are two examples of plates colliding
To examples of plates colliding are the Nazca plate colliding with the South American plate
What is an example of where the plates collide
An example of where the plates collide is the Alps
What features are formed when plates separate
When plates separate volcanoes, earthquakes and mid-ocean ridges are formed
What Is an example of two plates separating
An example of two plates separating are the north American plate separating from the Eurasian plate
What is an example of where the plate separate
An Example of where the plates separate is the mid-Atlantic Ridge
What features are formed when plates slide past each other
Earthquakes are examples of what features formed when plates slide past each other
What is an example of two plates sliding past each other
The North American plate sliding past the Pacific plate is an example of plates sliding past each other
Is it example of where the plates slide past each other
An example of where the plates slide past each other is the San Andreas Fault in California
Whta it the earth made of
The earth us made of the crust, mantle, inner core and outer core.
