Scope 3: Plate Tectonics Flashcards
Fossils
preserved parts or traces of animals that lived in the past
crust
the thin, solid, outermost layer of Earth, is either landmasses or ocean floors
mantle
the solid layer of Earth below the crust and above the coreli
lithosphere
the outermost part of Earth, comprising of crust and the uppermost part of the mantle
asthenosphere
middle part of the mantle, both solid and partly melted which allows tectonic plates to move. this floating is known as plasticity.
how slow does the asthenosphere move every year?
2-4 cm annually
core
the two-part layer of earth below the matnel with a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.
what is the outer core made up of?
molten material of mostly iron
what is the inner core made up of?
mostly of iron
tectonic plates
huge pieces of crust that slowly move on the upper part of the mantle
continental drift
the theory that continents were once connected but have drifted apart.
convection
heat transfer caused by the rising of hotter, less dense fluids and the falling of cooler, denser fluids.
convection currents
a circular movement caused by the rising of hotter, less dense fluid.
plate tectonics
the theory that the lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that slow moe on top of the asthenosphere.
magma
melted or molten rock material beaneath earth’s surface.