Tectonic plates Flashcards
What is a tectonic plate
Tectonic plates are gigantic pieces of the Earth’s crust and uppermost mantle
What is subduction
Subduction occurs when two plates converge, and one slides under the other.
What is Uplift
Uplift occurs when two plates converge and force land upwards creating mountains.
What is a fault line
The edge of the tectonic plates and occur when different plates grind against each other.
What is the hypocenter
The focus of an earthquake.
What is the epicenter
The spot on the surface just above where an earthquake starts.
What are the 3 tectonic plate boundaries called
Convergent, Divergent and Transform boundaries
What is a Convergent boundary
Where two tectonic plates push together.
What is a divergent boundary
An area where two crustal plates are separating.
What is a transform boundary
A fault zone where two plates slide past each other horizontally.
