plate tectonics Flashcards
What are the main processes that drive the cycling of Earth’s materials? Explain how these processes interact.
rock cycle, (make volcanoes, weathering & erosion), water cycle (evaporation etc), tectonic process, ( earthquakes, rising mountains)
How does heat energy from Earth’s interior contribute to the movement of tectonic plates?
heat from the Earth’s interior warms the mantle causing CONVECTION CURRENTS
Compare and contrast the three types of rocks and describe how each type can transform into another over time.
igneous (melting and cooling, metamorphic(heat and pressure), sedimentary(weathering, erosion, deposition, compacting and cementing.)
How does the rock cycle illustrate the movement of Earth’s materials over time?
the rock cycle is a continuous circle that shows how rocks are always changing and moving. for example, when magma cools down it forms igneous rocks.
What evidence do fossils provide about the movement of continents over time?
when scientists find fossils that are on different continents it shows that the continents were once connected
How do matching rock layers on different continents support the theory of plate tectonics?
it also shows that the continents were once connected which supports the idea of plate tectonics moving
What is seafloor spreading, and how does it support the idea that tectonic plates move?
seafloor spreading is when molten material adds new crust to the ocean floor. it shows that the ocean floor grows and spreads proving that tectonic plates move.
How does the shape of continents provide evidence for the theory of continental drift?
the shapes of the continents fit like puzzle pieces which proves the continents were once connected but drifted away.
The shape of the continents, especially …..?, suggests they were once part of a larger supercontinent (Pangaea).
South America and Africa
The ……? at mid-ocean ridges, providing evidence of plate movement.
Seafloor spreads
Similar rock formations found on separate continents suggest that the landmasses were once ….?
connected
Distribution of fossils on different continents supports the theory of …..?
continental drift and plate tectonics
The three main types of rocks………..?transform through various processes over time.
igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary
The movement of ……….? is driven by energy from Earth’s interior, primarily through mantle convection.
tectonic plates
The Earth’s materials are constantly cycled through processes such as the …………? weathering, erosion, and plate tectonics.
rock cycle
The layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth
outer core
The dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth
inner core
A fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock.
fault
The boundary where two plates are moving apart and magma comes up to create new crust
divergent
The layer of the upper mantle composed of low-density rock material that is semiplastic,like putty.
asthenosphere
A section of the lithosphere that slowly moves over the asthenosphere, carrying pieces of continental and oceanic crust
tectonic plates
The boundary between two colliding plates, often associated with mountain building ocean trenches and volcanic islands
convergent
