Plate Tectonics Flashcards
What are the 4 layers of the earth called?
Crust-solid
Mantle-semi fluid
Outer core-liquid
Inner core-solid
What is the crusts characteristics?
The earths solid crust is broken into huge moving slabs called tectonic plates
What is the mantle characteristics?
Surrounding the outer core and it is made up of Molton rock, 3000km deep
What is the cores characteristics?
The solid inner core is surrounded by the liquid outer core
What is a plate?
A huge slab of crust
What is a convection current?
Energy trapped during nuclear explosions in the core create vast amounts of heat and as this heat tries to escape it boils semi molten rocks in the mantle and slowly moves the crust above it
How do plates move?
They float on the semi-liquid mantle layer below and drift very slowly across the surface (as fast as your finger nails grow)
Name 4 types of plate boundaries
Constructive
Destructive
Conservative
Collision zones
Plate boundaries characteristics
Constructive - apart
Destructive - sinks
Conservative - slides
Collision zones - together
Where do earthquakes affect the world today?
The populated regions around the Pacific Ocean
How do volcanoes erupt?
Molten material from the mantle (magma) is forced though an opening or vent in the earth’s crust onto the surface as lava which solidified as igneous rock.
What are the two types of volcanoes?
1.Shield volcanoes
2.Stratovolcano volcanoes
Benefits of volcanic activity
1.Geothermal power heats homes, swimming pools and is used to melt snow
2.Tourists came to visit the geothermal wonders like geysers
3.Volcanic ash is a natural fertiliser
Problems of volcanic activity
They spew hot gases, ash, lava and rocks that are powerfully destructive.
They can also cause floods and power outages
What causes earthquakes?
Sudden movement of the earth’s tectonic plates
