Plate Tectonics Test Flashcards
Name the theory that explains why and how continents move.
plate tectonics
Layers of the earth
inner core
outer core
mesosphere
asthenosphere
lithosphere
What layer of earth forms tectonic plates?
lithosphere
What layer of earth is elastic, much like putty?
asthenosphere
Which layer of Earth causes the motion of the plates through convection cells of magma?
asthenosphere
Which layer of Earth is made of continental and oceanic crust?
lithosphere
Which layer of Earth generates the Earth’s magnetism?
inner/outer core
what is the main difference between oceanic crust and continental crust?
Continental crust is older and oceanic crust is younger
Name and describe the record of reverse and normal polarity in the ocean crust.
Normal polarity-north
reverse polarity-south
paleomagnetism-ancient magnetism, magnetic reversal recorded in ocean floor rocks
How does the age of oceanic rock that is closer to the mid-ocean ridge compare to the oceanic rock that is further away from the ridge?
Oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges is the youngest rock and the crust near continents are the oldest rock.
Divergent Boundary
-plates moving away from each other
-forms a ridge or rift at the boundary
-creates new crust
Convergent continent/continent boundary
-plates are moving toward each other
-forms mountains(no subduction+no volcanoes)
-crust shortens or deforms
Transform Boundary
-plates sliding past each other
-deforms crust due to friction
-can create other small fractures(faults)
-results in earthquakes
Convergent ocean/continent boundary
-plates moving toward each other
-subduction zone-oceanic crust pushed below continetal
-forms a trench in the ocean and volcanoes on the continent
-destroys crust(melting)
Convergent ocean/ocean boundary
-plates moving toward each other
-subduction zone
-forms a trench and volcanic island arc in the ocean
-destroys crust(melting)