Physical Geography test Flashcards
3 layers of the earth
crust mantle core
what are the three layers of the earth, what traits to they have
crust: we live on the crust. two types oceanic and continental
mantle: middle layers composed of rock
core: made of iron and nickel, very hot
what are tectonic plates
plates that move
lithosphere is…
the lithosphere is a rigid outer layer of the earth composed of rocks and minerals. Made up of entire crust as well as the upper part of the mantle
why are tectonic plates significant?
Plate boundaries are important because they are often associated with earthquakes and volcanoes, when earth’s tectonic plates grind past one another, enormous amount of energy can be released in the form of earthquakes
divergent
go apart
transform
rub side to side
convergent
come together
who is alfred wegner and what did he do?
Suggested all earth’s land masses collide 300 million years ago to form one supercontinent called pangea
The theory of the drift is called the continental drift
Other scientists didn’t believe him and called him crazy
It was proved by the fact that the continents fit together like a puzzle
There were fossils of the same plants and animals were located on two continents
South africa and africa
Ice sheets covered southern Africa, India, Australia and South America 300 million years ago. Which are very hot places but then they were more southern, closer to antarctica.
The appalachian and caledonian mountains had the same layers, age and structure
who is J tuzo wilson?
Canadian
Sparked new interest in continental drift theory
Helped to explain HOW continental drift happened
He saw that the bottom of the ocean is not the same everywhere
Developed theory of plate tectonics
Comes from the greek word tekton meaning builder
The Theory
Earth’s outer shell is broken into thin, curved plates that move laterally atop a weather underlying layer
Due to tremendous heat, rock in the asthenosphere is like hot taffy
This allows plates to ride on top of hot flowing rock
Plates move because heat is being released from deep inside the earth
what are plate tectonics?
The earth’s crust is not one single piece that fully covers the earth, instead there are several different plates that float on the molten rocks, shifting the plates over time
The earth has been formed out of seven major plates, eight secondary plattes and more that 60 minor plates. These are called tectonic plates
3 types of convergence
Continental plate meets oceanic plate, oceanic meets oceanic, continenetal meets continenetal
what is a landform
A landform is a natural fracture on the earth’s surface
The four main types of landform are:
Mountains
Hills
Plateaus
Plains
Landforms affect where people live and the way they are made is connected to the rock cycle and glaciation
rock cycle features:
The rock cycle is a cycle so there is no beginning or end
Rocks are constantly being created and destroyed
Rockets are classifieds into three main types:
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
sedmintary
limestone and sandstone Created after millions of years of compaction and cremation of loose sediments
