Geography Flashcards
KeyWords
Core
The central or innermost part of something:
Mantle
the layer of the Earth that lies between the crust and the core. It is the thickest layer, making up about 84% of the Earth’s volume
Magma
molten rock found beneath the Earth’s surface
Crust
outermost solid layer of the object. It’s like the skin of an apple, relatively thin compared to the other layers.
Plate
refers to a massive slab of solid rock that makes up the Earth’s lithosphere.
Plate Boundary
the location where two tectonic plates meet
Convection Currents
heat-driven cycles that occur in fluids (liquids and gases).
They are caused by differences in temperature and density.
Colliding boundary
a type of tectonic plate boundary where two tectonic plates move towards each other.
Plate Tectonics
the scientific theory that explains how Earth’s lithosphere (the rigid outer shell of the planet, including the crust and upper mantle) is broken into large tectonic plates.
These plates are in constant motion, slowly moving across the Earth’s surface over millions of years.
Separating boundary
a type of tectonic plate boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other. This movement creates a gap between the plates, which is filled by magma rising from the Earth’s mantle. As the magma cools and solidifies, it forms new crust, expanding the ocean floor.
Sliding Boundary
a type of tectonic plate boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. This type of boundary is characterized by frequent earthquakes but does not result in the creation or destruction of crust.
Subduction
a geological process that occurs at convergent plate boundaries where one tectonic plate moves beneath another and sinks into the Earth’s mantle
Pangea
a supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago. It was a single landmass that contained almost all of the Earth’s landmass
Continental Drift
the theory that the Earth’s continents were once joined together in a single landmass called Pangaea.
Over millions of years, this supercontinent began to break apart and drift to their current positions.
fold mountain
a mountain that forms when two tectonic plates collide, causing the Earth’s crust to buckle and fold. This process, known as orogenesis, results in the formation of large mountain ranges.