mcmullen science Flashcards
Crust
The outermost shell of a rocky planet.
Mantle
Layer of molten rock between the crust and core.
Core
Made up of mostly Iron. Separated into the outer core (molten) and inner core (solid)
Continental Drift Theory
The theory that continents gradually drifted over time to their present positions.
Asthenosphere
A thin layer of earth, about 150 miles thick, at the border between the mantle and the crust.
Convection Current
The process in which the hotter parts of a gas liquid rise to the top and the cooler, denser parts sink.
Convergent Boundary
When two tectonic plates come together
Moutains
Uplift of crustal plates that form elevated landmasses
Volcanoes
A vent or fissure in Earths surface through which magma and gases are expelled.
Divergent Boundary
When tectonic plates split apart.
Transform Boundary
When tectonic plates slide past each other.
Fault
Breaks in the crust. The movement causes seismic waves which produces earthquakes.
Mid-Ocean Ridge
A long ride of underwater volcanoes between two diverging oceanic things.
Subduction Zone
A place where one tectonic plate sinks under another and melts. Also forms a trench
Rift Valley
A long narrow valley between two diverging continental plates.