plate tectonics

Question 1

The solid, outer layer of Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

Answer 1

Lithosphere

Question 2

The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it

Answer 2

Asthenosphere

Question 3

Literally, the “middle sphere”; the strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core

Answer 3

Mesosphere

Question 4

The solid, dense center of the Earth

Answer 4

Inner Core

Question 5

the liquid layer of the Earth’s core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core

Answer 5

Outer Core

Question 6

A vibration in rock that travels out from the focus of an earthquake in all directions; seismic waves can also be caused by explosions

Answer 6

Seismic Waves

Question 7

The 7 to 10 km thick layer of sediment and igneous rock that makes up the ocean floor

Answer 7

Oceanic Crust

Question 8

The rocks underlying the continents

Answer 8

Continental Crust

Question 9

The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance; commonly expressed as grams per cubic centimeter for solids and liquids and as grams per liter for gases

Answer 9

Density

Question 10

Was a German polar researcher, geophysicist and meteorologist

Answer 10

Alfred Wegener

Question 11

The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations

Answer 11

Continental Drift

Question 12

the boundary between tectonic plates that are colliding

Answer 12

Convergent Boundary

Question 13

The boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other

Answer 13

Divergent Boundary

Question 14

The boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally

Answer 14

Transform Boundary

Question 15

The process by which new oceanic lithosphere (sea floor) forms as magma rises to Earth’s surface and solidifies at a mid-ocean ridge

Answer 15

Sea-floor Spreading

Question 16

The super continent that formed 300 million years ago and that began to break up 250 million years ago

Answer 16

Pangaea

Question 17

The northern landmass that supposedly fragmented millions of years ago to form North America, Greenland, and Eurasia

Answer 17

Laurasia

Question 18

The southern landmass that supposedly fragmented millions of years ago to form South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica

Answer 18

Gondwana

Question 19

Is an extinct genus of reptile from the Early Permian of southern Africa and South America

Answer 19

Mesosaurus

Question 20

Is the largest and best-known genus of the extinct order of seed ferns known as Glossopteridales

Answer 20

Glossopteris