Plate Tectonics Flashcards
states that the earthβs outer mechanical layer, the lithosphere, is divided into large continentβsized plates that are constantly moving.
Plate Tectonics Theory
are where the plates meet
Boundaries
3 Types of Plate Tectonics Boundaries
- convergent boundary
- divergent boundary
- transform boundary
what type of P.B:
β β
- Convergent
- collides or towards
- causes earthquake
- forms volcanoes and mountains
what type of P.B:
β β
- Divergent
- away or spread apart
- fissures, cracks, and rifts occurs in the surface
what type of P.B:
ββ
- Transform
- slide past each other
- causes earthquake and tsunami
Major Plate Tectonics
- Pacific Plate
- North American Plate
- Eurasian Plate
- African Plate
- Antartic Plate
- Indo-Australian Plate
- South American Plate
Minor Tectonic Plates
- Nazca Plate
- Philippine Plate
- Arabian plate
- Caribbean Plate
- Cocos Plate
- Scotia Plate
- Juan de Fuca Plate
2 types of layers of the earth
compositional (chemical)
mechanical (physical)
are determined by their components or materials/elements
Compositional layers
are determined by their physical properties or behavior/mechanism that happen in each layer
Mechanical layers
Compositional Layers
- crust
- mantle
- core
Crust
outermost and thinnest layer of the earth
Mantle
The thickest and most massive layer. The planetβs mantle consist of MAGMA
Core
the innermost layer which is divided into separate regions. mostly made of IRON and NICKEL
- inner outer core
- solid inner core
Mechanical Layers
- Litosphere
- Asthenosphere
- Mesosphere
- Outer Core
- Inner Core
Litosphere
the solid outer part of the earth, including brittle upper portion of mantle and crust
Asthenosphere
the denser weaker layer beneath lithosperic mantle (not liquid). made of MAGMA
Mesosphere
located beneath the asthenosphere. It encompasses the lower mantle, where material still flows but at a much slower
rate than the asthenosphere.
Outer core (liquid)
extremely high temp that melt the metals
Inner core (solid)
extremely high temp but it is in a solid form
Why inner core isnt liquid?
due to extreme pressure.
2 Types of Crust
- Continental Crust
- Oceanic Crust
Continental crust
- thick, less dense and old
- 25 miles thick under the continents
- composed of GRANITE
Oceanic crust
- thin, dense, sinks under and young
- 3-5 miles thick under the oceans
- composed of BASALT
Transition zones
Discontinuities
Conrad Discontinuity
- Victor Conrad
- upper and lower crust
Moho/Mohorovicic discontinuity
- Andrija Mohorovicic
- lower crust and upper mantle
Repetti discontinuity
- William C. Repetti
- upper and lower mantle
Gutenburg discontinuity
- Beno Gutenburg
- lower mantle and outer core
Lehmann discontinuity
- Inge Lehmann
- outer and innner core
oceans in the world
- Pacifi Ocean
- Arctic Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean
- Indian Ocean
continents in the world
- Asia
- Africa
- North America
- South America
- Antartica
- Europe
- Australia
largest and smallest ocean in the world
largest: Pacific Ocean
smallest: Arctic Ocean
largest and smallest continent in the world
largest: Asia
smallest: Australia
