plate Tectonics 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 [molten] and inner core [solid]
Tectonic plate
The layer of rock that makes up the outer part of the Earth, including the crust and upper mantle (lithospheric plates)
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 or liquid rise to the top and the cooler, denser parts sink.
convergent boundary
when two tectonic plates come together
mountains
uplift ofcrustal plates that form elevated landmasses.
volcanoes
A vent of fissure in Earth’s surface through which magma and gases are expelled.
Divergent Boundary
When tectonic plates split apart.
transform boundary
when tectonic plates slide past other.
Fault
Breaks in the crust. The 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 sinks under another and melts. Also forms a trench.
