Inside the Earth Flashcards
Lithosphere
The solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle.
Asthenosphere
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.
Inner Core
Solid dense center of our planet that extends from the bottom of the outer core to the center of the earth, which is about 6,380 km beneath the surface.
Outer Core
Liquid layer of the earth’s core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core.
Seismic Waves
The vibrations from an earthquake.
Oceanic Crust
The thin layer of crust on the ocean floor.
Continental Crust
The crust that is on land.
Density
How compact a substance is.
Alfred Wegener
A German geologist who came up with the theory of continental drift.
Continental Drift
The hypothesis that states that continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations.
Convergent Boundary
The boundary formed by the collision of two lithospheric 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.
Sea-floor Spreading
The process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma rises toward the surface and solidifies.
