Plate Tectonics Flashcards
Crust
The outermost shell of a rocky planet
Mantle
Layer of molten rock between the crust and the core.
Core
Made up of mostly iron. Separated into outer core (molten) and inner core ( solid )
Tectonic Plate
The layer of rock that makes up the outer part of the Earth, including the crust and the upper mantle ( lithospheric plates )
Continental Drift Theory
The theory that the continents gradually drifted overtime 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 or liquid rise to the top while the cooler, denser parts sink to the bottom
Convergent Boundary
When two tectonic plates come together
Mountains
Uplife of crustal plates that are elevated landmasses
Volcanoes
A vent or fissure in Earths surface through which magma and gasses are expelled
Divergent Boundary
When tectonic plates split apart
Transform Boundary
When tectonic plates slide past each other
Fault
Breaks in the crust. he movement causes seismic waves which produces earthquakes
Mid-Ocean Ridge
A long ridge of underwater volcanoes between two diverging oceanic plates.
Subduction Zone
A place where one tectonic plate sinks under another and melts. Also forms a trench.