Tectonic Plates Flashcards
Crust
The outermost shell of a rocky planet.
Mantle
A layer of molten rock between the crust and core.
core
It is made of mostly iron. Separated core (molten) and inner core (solid).
Tectonic Plates
The layer of rock that makes up the outer part of the earth, including the crust and upper mantle (lithospheric plates).
Continental Drift Theory
the theory that continents gradually drifted over time to their present position.
Asthenosphere
A thin layer of Earth, about 150 miles thick, at the border between the mantle and the crust.
Convection Current
The process in which the hotter part of a gas or liquid rise to the top and the cooler, denser parts sink.
Convergent Boundary
When two tectonic plates come together.
Mountains
Uplift of crustal plates that form elevated landmasses.
Volcanoes
A vent or fissure in Earth’s surface through which magma and gases are expelled
Divergent Boundary
When tectonic plated still apart
Transform Boundary
When tectonic plates slide past or against each other.
Fault
Breaks in the crust. The movement causes seismic waves which produces earthquakes.
Mid-Ocean Ridge
A long ridge of underwater volcanoes between two diverging oceanic plates.
Subduction Zone
A place where one tectonic plate sinks under another and melts. Also forms a trench.
