Plate tectonics (and a bit of structure of the Earth) Flashcards
For a revision activity tmrw.
What are plate tectonics?
The movement of the plates and the activity inside the Earth.
A boundary where two plate move together is called a ________ boundary.
Convergent
A boundary where two plate move apart is called a ________ boundary.
Divergent
A boundary where two plate move past each other is called a ________ boundary.
Transform
The plate on the west coast of South America.
Nazca plate
South American plate is to the East
The Himalayas were formed by a _________ type of plate boundary.
Convergent
Name the parts of the Earth, going from the deepest to the shallowest.
Inner core, outer core, mantle, crust.
What is the thinnest crust?
Oceanic
Name the layer beneath the crust.
Mantle
Name the layer above the inner core.
Outer core
Name the layer below the mantle.
Outer core
Name the layer closest to the surface of the Earth.
Crust
The Earth is a sphere with a diameter of about ________.
12 700 km.
The circumference of the Earth at the Equator is ________.
40 075 km.
The ____ is the layer beneath the crust and extends about _____ to the centre. It is made up of molten/liquid rock called ______ which is a very viscous substance.
Mantle
Halfway
Magma
The outer core is made up of _____ ____ and _____.
Liquid iron, nickel
The inner core has a temperature of around _____°C and is made up of solid iron and nickel due to the extreme_______ exerted on it
3500, pressure.
What are convection currents?
Convection currents describe the motion of molten rock in the mantle. Convection currents move from the intense heat of the core to the cooler regions at the top of the mantle. These convection currents move through the magma and causes it to rise and fall.
When the convection currents move apart near the Earth’s crust, plates ____ _____.
Move apart
When the convection currents move together, the plates ____ _______ ____ _____.
Move towards each other
